October 2016 #5 Third trimester here we come

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New thread if it works

Thistle sending for you! Hang in there. I also have never had the percentile thing explained so would be happy to know more. I've only been measured twice. Well three times... But the third time a male GP measured from my pubic bone to my sternum! Not the top of my uterus. So we can discount that one! haven't had any scans since the 20 week scan. Which I guess must be a good thing if everything seems to be ticking along nicely.

Big thistle

fresh I have 3 weeks a 3 days left - not really got much to do as manager is off and doesn't want me starting anything new due to handover - I know my last week will be manic when they're back from leave but just wish I didn't have to feign interest/work as all I want to do is nap or hobble about to try and release some stiffness in my hips ;(

Agree how hot it is - my feet are so swollen - god I hope I get my normal feet back after pregnancy!!!

I'm slightly envious of you all who have a few weeks left. I'm working up right until 30th sept...so 6 weeks and 2 days left. Only thing getting me through is that we have a bank holiday coming up and I have a long weekend off in early September. I work a day a week from home but a going to have to increase this to two days my boss is just going to have to deal with it. They are still interviewing people for my maternity cover, it's gonna be cutting it fine if they have someone in in time.
Can't stop eating the last few days even though it backfires with constant indigestion! Think I'm feeling a little paranoid about how many people commenting how small my bump is. It looks fine to me on the graph...even though I don't really understand the percentile thing either!

Ive got 4 weeks 3 days to go and it seriously can't come soon enough!

Here's a bit of an explanation on centiles - it's all about averages. The middle line is the average size of a baby, and the lines give an idea of the range either side of that. This definition is about when they are here, but it's the same idea!

The curved lines on the charts are called centile lines. These show the average weight and height gain for babies at different ages. If your child's weight is on the 25th centile, this means that if you lined up 100 children of the same age in order from the lightest to the heaviest, your child would be number 25 and 75 children would be taller.
It's normal for a child's weight or height to be anywhere within the top and bottom centile lines on the charts. The centile lines show roughly how healthy babies are expected to grow.

Ahh I see thanks northern x

April I too was swigging out of the bottle, my initial prescription said 30ml a day (10ml after each meal) but I was getting through 500ml in 5 days! GP said to limit it to 80ml a day but also gave me ranitidine which actually means I have about 10ml of gaviscon a day now as heartburn is almost gone.

Fresh I went to look on the Tuppence and Crumble website. Definitely buying a star wrap! I looked at the nap sack but I'm not sure. I think I'd possibly get paranoid about the hood if I used it in the Moses basket and in the pram the baby wouldn't use the nap sack and the star wrap at the same time surely as they are both very thick (or am I underestimating how many thick layers babies need in winter?) Still debating it as obviously wouldn't be using the star wrap all the time, plus they are very cute!

Spent the day cleaning our new house yesterday. It's shocking how filthy people leave things. Also a lot of the paint work on the walls isn't as pristine as I'd like, but as we're renting I'm wondering if we can't justify spending money on it - it's nowhere near bad enough to ask the landlord to do it, it's just me being fussy and possibly the nesting thing kicking in!

Northern - thanks for the explanation! I was a bit confused about what it meant too!

Kariana - i have been doing exactly the same. We too are renting (long term while we save!) but we have arranged to knock a bit off the rent if we do some of the painting etc ourselves. My OH is a joiner though so he is quite fussy and has already been replacing doors and all sorts - our landlady has scored! I figure its better to have it how we want it though and in some ways its nice that she is happy for us to decorate it as we choose. Make the most of that nesting instinct - its a great time for it to kick in!

hobnob this ranititide sounds bliss, I'm definitely getting some if they'll prescribe me it.

northern' thanks for that info! I've never understood the charts etc when I see people talking about them.

Has anyone seen those Nonna nap mats? My friend has one for her newborn and recommended them, we're buying GroSnugs for bed but going to check the nap mats out. Definitely checking out this star wrap too.

Had my 30 wk scan today, both babies are head down now so the midwives and consultant are really happy and say it's perfect for vaginal delivery. Meanwhile I'm lying there wishing the first one would spin round to breech again!! I'm so scared of vaginal delivery after my friends friend lost her second twin during delivery. Different circumstances in that he had the cord round his neck as well as being breech but it's really scared me. Will need to sit down with the consultant and discuss all the risks etc. Ideally I'd love to go natural and not have a section wound and recovery but on the other hand the section seems safer. I'm so confused now.

Mw measured me today for shits and giggles and I'm measuring at 36 weeks. Bleeding heck, by the time I get to 37 weeks I'll be measuring at 43 weeks hahah!!

Growth scan tomorrow - think it's the first scan I've looked forward to! 32 weeks so he'll be much bigger!

Just had our first NCT class. Everybody was really nice and it feels so real now. I'm the last one due in the group which is good as everyone else will have gone first and can give me advice. We learned about breastfeeding which I'm nervous about but it has made me feel a lot better.
april do what is right for you. What happened to your friend is awful so I'm not surprised you are nervous
northern good luck tomorrow!

Why are you nervous about breastfeeding Positivity?

Saw the me today, blood results said my iron was slightly low so must increase intake and drink orange juice with meals (as vit C aids iron absorption) and cut down caffeine as that prevents absorption.

Had cramp in my right calf last night, felt paralysed as couldn't tilt my foot to stretch it out! Also left ribs painful when taking a full breath as the baby was sticking her rear end up there! Oh joy.

DP being a complete arsehole. He's actually pre-ordered the new Sony VR headset which is out in Oct so that's what he'll be doing on his paternity leave.

The nap mats are lovely April, might have to add to my wishlist!

I'm also feeling slightly apprehensive about breastfeeding despite the fact that I really want to give it a go. Practically everyone I speak to switched to formula for one reason or another after just a few weeks. I've ordered the womanly art book and also printed off details of local breastfeeding drop in cafes so I'm hoping that I will manage to do it for at least a few months. I've also got lansinoh for my hospital bag!

They are quite nice aren't they? I wonder if they can be used during the night or if it is just for napping.

I'm still undecided about breastfeeding, about 95% sure I won't be doing it and my sister has bought us the perfect prep machine but I think maybe I should give them the colostrum....will probably just wait and see how everything goes when they're here.

I've decided to try breastfeeding at the hospital and just take it from there. I'm apprehensive about it but I'm thinking that I might as well try and see what happens.

Scan all ok this morning - the little fella has hair!

I find it quite sad that so many people are not hopeful about breastfeeding. If you want to do it and are willing to persevere it's quite possible. I breastfed my daughter for a year and am confident about doing the same again with this one.

April I know a few twin mums who have successfully breastfed but with your sister buying you the Perfect Prep machine I guess it'll be all too easy to just use that.

I never breastfed any of mine. Terrible I know. But it's just not for me.

I really wasn't trying to bash formula feeders Fresh. Everyone is entitled to make an informed decision over this. I just think it's a shame when mums don't feel confident about breastfeeding due to things they've heard etc.

That's great that you fed for a year Enough, did you settle in to it quite easily or was it a case of persevering through the early stages? I'll definitely be asking the mw's for help with it in hospital to start me off.

I didn't think you were enough just wanted to put it out there incase anyone else just didn't want to do it but didn't want to say!

I agree, Enough, it should just be a choice between the two about what works for the mum and baby and how things work out for them.

It's a shame to see when one side comes with such worry and negativity, and as you say, the bad stories. I'm really hoping to breastfeed if I can, and I've been reading up about both that and formula feeding. It's a little unnerving how many horror/bad stories there are about breastfeeding (not working, being painful, some partners not wanting the women to try it, then guilt and shame if they end up not being able to).

I just wish both sides could feel confident about what they want to do. But it (sometimes) feels like mums who want to formula feed are defensive about their choice, and mums who want to breastfeed are scared and worried (causing low confidence) about their choice. Neither should be the case.

I've breastfed all of mine and only had a problem with the last one. It was because he had tongue tie. I persevered for 11 months then switched to formula feeding to give me back my evenings as he took so long for a feed.
My sister formula fed all of hers and my friends have all formula fed too.
DH has suggested mixed feeding this time to let our DD17 feed the baby sometimes but, for me, I just find it easier to be able to feed on demand with no prep.

I will try to BF but I suspect it isn't going to work........limped along for 8 weeks last time with FF top ups getting bigger and bigger and milk supply not improving despite supplements, pumping etc. I have a logistical issue too in that my boobs are small (36A usually) and so I barely have enough breast tissue to negotiate out of bra's so was always a huge faff to feed and I don't think I ever managed it out of the house as ended up doing it topless most of the time. I fully expect to end up FF again but then think if I go in with that attitude it is likely to happen so need to be a bit more positive.

I think it's important for everyone to receive the support they need regardless of the method of feeding they choose.

Personally when I had my first DC I felt lost and wasn't paid any attention on the ward or given any guidance. While they bf mums were flocked around by mws. I had just turned 20 and didn't have the usual support of even my mother. Luckily I did have a clue what I was doing, but did feel slightly abandoned...