Late December - Early January Thread 2!

[Bella1985]

Hi! We're on to our 2nd thread for babies due at the end of December/Early January. 3rd trimester is in sight...!

I'm with you on the tiredness. I've been dreaming of a saturday morning lie in all week (have been rather grumpy in work) and yet last night I had the worst night sleep and have been wide awake since 6am! I feel exhausted! I'm averaging 1.5hrs sleep at a time before waking up needing to pee/turn over. I woke DH up last night once and he was huffing and puffing because he couldn't get back to sleep...he better pull himself together by birth or he's going to be a right miserable git when our newborn will wake us multiple times a night/ keep us up all night

I found the first few weeks with DS, both DH & I got competitive about sleep. It wasn't productive but we just naturally spoke about who had more sleep. I generally got up as I had to feed, yet 2.5 years later apparently DH got up every time once he went back to work he definitely didn't get up during the night. He helped with the last feed at 11pm but then that was it.

I was awake at 5am this morning. DS came into our room at 6.50 & had an upset tummy during the night. The things you have to deal with before 7am!

Happy 33 weeks! Iv got to wait til Monday but almost there. Then it's 4 weeks until full term

Oh my gosh yes it's 4 weeks to full term! Can't believe it's so close! Have been called 'heavily pregnant' twice in work this week by 2 different people so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the end is so close

I can see DH and I going down the same competitive route. He's an optimist and has good intentions and wants to be hands on and help (to be fair he's been spot on during most of pregnancy) but I couldn't believe he huffed and puffed because I woke him up once, considering I've been getting up 4-5 times a night for months and haven't woken him up once before! So I think his optimism about being there to help when baby arrives may not become reality - or at best it will be a grumpy reality! I'm praying baby isn't too overdue as he has to go back to work mid january and i know he'll need his sleep at that point, but he'll have to buckle up and stop moaning when he hasn't got work commitments to get to!!

My DH still expects a lie in on a weekend.... I know he works hard but it would be nice if he said "ill get up with DS this morning". Oh well can't have everything. A lie in is pointless for me anyway as I'm so restless. Woke up a couple of times on my back. I was so comfy without dead hips but knew I should roll onto my side. Missing sleeping on my front.

I don't know when I'd like baby to come. Can't decide if it's better before or after Christmas. I suppose this baby will decide this

emz what maternity coat did you get? Also if you are not feeling sick lying on your back then don't worry too much about it - it won't hurt baby.

Haha at you with your sleep greedy husbands! I must admit that dh and I were so worried about the sleep deprivation that we are going to get a night nurse for a few weeks. We have no family support whatsoever so I am worried about being home all day by myself and then up all night - as I suspect my dh's good intentions will go much the same way as yours once he's back at work!

4 weeks to full term. Hurrah for us!

Meanwhile I am FREAKED OUT as my boobs have started producing some sort of clear liquid. It's just a few drops but if you squeeze them out comes the liquid (DH has just spent a very entertaining 15mins for him experimenting with this.) what is this? Colostrum? it's clear fluid. Aaaaaaaah!

Sounds exactly like the stuff I had! I don't think I've had it since, I haven't been aware of it happening since the first time but have been wearing breast pads just in case. Don't know what it is - pre colostrum? My DH was rather amused by it too!

I shall call my doctor on Monday and ask.

So bizarre though!

Yes dh was v amused. He was squeezing away with his head about 10cm from my boobs. He kept repeating - it's like a sieve! Your boob is like a sieve!

Romantic this most certainly is not

I got this one www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/black-2in1-padded-maternity-jacket-d5220.html

I got it in a 12 & I was worried it would drown me (only 5ft 2) but it's ok & warm. Iv taken the panel out for now as I don't need it but can always put back as I grow.

With DS I found great support with the mummies I met at anti-natal classes. There were 4 of us & it was great messaging each other whilst feeding at silly o'clock. The friendship fizzled out at about 6 months but it was great whilst it lasted.

Iv heard about night nurses. How do they work? if you are breastfeeding, you might not want to sleep too much! I had 1 night of sleep whilst my mum stayed, I woke up with boobs so full & hard I was in a lot of pain. The sleep helped take the edge of the exhaustion.

Does sound like colostrum from what I remember. A sieve is a good description. I found it weird how the drops sort of oozed out. It's also quite sticky & thick of its colostrum. Don't think there's anything romantic about making or having babies!

Romance is certainly out of the window these days... MIL was asking today in front of DH and FIL if I've suffered from heartburn, swollen feet, lack of sleep, piles...! And I didn't even feel embarrassed to answer in front of everyone. Just realised I didn't tell them about the leaky boob though - will save that for next time

I'm starting antenatal classes this week so looking forward to those, haven't heard great things about them though so won't hold out much hope for the content but will be good to start preparing for baby's arrival and having something DH can feel a bit more involved in.

Not heard of a night nurse before, how does that work?

no leaky boobs here, although I'm wishing for some so I know they are working!

Since I started showing properly, I'm finding that more and more people / strangers / acquaintances are talking to me. I work in a relatively big office of 500 people and today a man, who I usually see at the office cafe started asking me about my "big day" and how I was feeling. I don't think he even knows my name. I also get talked to by people on the bus / train / gym / queuing in the shops. I don't mind small chit chat but it's very surreal in London where everyone usually tries to avoid eye contact and conversation!

I have two friends who hired maternity nurses, one with twins and the other was an older mum with no family help (her mum has passed away). They both had them for about a month, the ones available where I live usually work 12 hour days, you can choose whether it's day or night, and they'll help you with everything baby. Both of my friends' maternity nurses got the babies from a routine very early on and all babies were sleeping through by 12 weeks, I was well jealous.

I found our anti natal classes really helpful. I wouldn't have known half the stuff I did. I found it helpful with not overheating babies, what to dress them in inside the house in winter & in bed etc. The only criticism I had was I wish they had spoken about premature babies. That's just because when my waters went we didn't know what to do & this caused a lot of panic. Hopefully you will find them useful.

Tummy bug back with vengeance. I started feeling bad during the evening. I was then violently sick & had a very poorly tummy. Have barely slept as DH then started being ill in the early hours. Supposed to have a birthing & yoga preparation class this afternoon. Oh dear.

p.s. I'm feeling lots of pressure in between my legs when I walk - does this mean baby is engaging? I have a scan early next week so we'll find out then. Can't wait to see baby (on the scan!.. not ready to have baby yet definitely)

bella love the checklist of pregnancy indignities! My major thing at the moment is just the baby moving - he is a real wriggler. He seems to be just taking in turns to poke at all my major organs. Goodness knows how I'll survive for another 6 and a bit weeks.

Night nurse is as lucy describes. She'll come from 9pm-7am 5 nights a week and basically take care of the baby. Depending on how I go with expressing/bfing this means she will either bring the baby to me to go on the boob, or give him a bottle and I can sleep through. She'll do all the burping, changing and other baby related stuff during the evenings.

emz tummy bug does not sound fun at all. Rest up and take it easy.

lucy I've started antenatal classes and am finding them v helpful so far given how clueless I am about basically everything. And not sure about engaging but I am also starting to feel the pressure. I have a scan next week too - am excited to see the baby and hoping they don't tell me he weighs loads!

Oh emz that sounds rough, hope you're feeling better this evening.

Night nurses sound amazing, I wonder if any exist my neck of the woods...

I'm jealous of stealth and lucy getting another peek at your babies next week, fingers crossed everything is fine with you.

I had my first treatment tonight with a chiropractor for my SPD. the pain has gone down significantly, I've been getting up from the sofa tonight and not hobbling to the kitchen/bathroom. I'd forgotten how normal walking can feel...! I've got another appointment on Thursday so hoping that will improve things further, or if I'm back to same pain by tomorrow atleast I know there's a good chance I'll get a couple of hours free from pain on Thursday after treatment. Hoping for a restful night, slept about 3 hrs last night so need it!

I'm feeling so breathless just standing up. Iv just done the ironing & had to keep taking breaks. Not sure if it's just getting back on me feet after this bug. Didn't really manage to rest much as had DS to look after & couldn't ask anyone to look after him when he's poorly. Night nurse sounds like an excellent idea Stealth. Last time I took it fairly easy with a newborn. Not going to be that easy with DS this time. Will just have to see how it goes.

My third & final scan is in 3 weeks. Hopefully baby will still be cooking then. We survived the super moon (DS arrived on the night of the supermoon). Hope everyone's feeling ok. I'm tired & feeling the pressure too.

Glad you are getting help Bella.

Glad you're getting some relief bella. If you haven't tried it (and have a physio or chiro who can do it for you) I highly recommend acupuncture needles (they call it "dry needling" in a physio setting) - it's not woo acupuncture where they put needles in your meridians or whatever, they just stick fine needles into your large hip muscles for pain relief. I find it to be unbelievably effective.

emz I hear you on the breathlessness.

4.5 weeks left of work. I can't wait to finish. After the little one going absolutely crazy with the movements on Sunday I've had a couple of quiet days. Really hate the whole concept of reduced movements - I never know when I should be going in to have a check. Unfortunately he's just smashed one foot right up into my diaphragm and the other out the front of my stomach so I think he's ok for now

Stealth I'm finding the whole movement thing a minefield, I'm worrying about less movement, more movement, different movement.... Movements are definitely more shakey tonight than usual. I guess they are running out of room inside us. I'm feeling less mobile & struggling to sit comfortably. Keep being told I'm so small & neat..., doesn't feel small or neat!

It's so weird emz. I don't know how we're supposed to know! I've now had 4 hours of my bump being rock hard and sore. Really hard to tell if there is any movement happening under there. Was at a gallery opening tonight and I could barely stand up it is so hard. Am freaking myself out. Gah!

And I hear you on small and neat. I had a meeting today, I was wearing a tight dress and a jacket and the guy didn't even realise I was pregnant! I feel like I'm the size of a house!

People keep saying "I didn't want to say anything just in case".... Making me paranoid they think Iv just over eaten! Feeling so wiped out today. Barely any sleep (DH couldn't sleep & kept waking me on the rare occasion I did manage to get off). My hips were so achey & numb this morning. DS still had a bit of an upset tummy yesterday evening & we have an electrician doing some odd jobs round the house so housebound. All I want to do is sleep. DS is happy to watch films (new love of Ice Age) but I feel like a terrible mum just putting the tv on. We have had so much tv last few days.

Films are absolutely fine emz. I honestly don't know how you're doing it - you're a super mum!

After a slightly panicked night of not feeling much movement and the bump painful & hard, I'm now on the ward being monitored. Baby's heartbeat seems to be fine so I am sure it is nothing major, but my bump has been absolutely rock hard for well over 12 hours now so am wondering what on earth that is. My consultant is here which is good.

Hope it's nothing to worry about stealth Good that your consultant is there.

I've noticed my bump feeling a bit harder than normal and wasn't sure if I'm getting braxton hicks or not (mine doesn't stay rock hard for hours) but it doesn't seem to visibly soften after a few minutes as I expected with bh. I think baby's trying to turn to lie on its side rather than head down as I've had lots of uncomfortable movement and some of it on left side which I've not really had before. Space is definitely a premium now!

emz don't feel bad for putting films on, I imagine that's what all mums do when they're tired. As long as he's happy and fed, a few films won't harm him in the long run. MIL is a retired primary teacher (taught age 3-5) and she lets her granddaughter watch films. I trust her insight when it comes to child development as she's seen so many children from different backgrounds and how they develop so if films were bad for children she wouldn't allow it for her granddaughter!

Thank you guys. Made me feel a lot better. We normally get out once a day but where we have both been ill we haven't ventured out for a couple of days. Probably just need to cut myself some slack.

My bump has been tighter. I haven't noticed BH exactly but if I move suddenly or do too much then it really tightens. Hope everything's ok Stealth. Doesn't sound very comfortable for you. I thought my anxiety would be lessening by now as we near the end but I think I'm almost feeling worse!

I think it's all fine. The main thing they are looking for (I think) is either pre term labour or placental abruption - the latter scares me particularly as I did have that low PAPP A result early on which I think is correlated. But they have me on a trace and there is no sign of uterine activity and the baby is normal so I think it's all good. Consultant did a manual check of my bump too and thinks it is probably muscular. It's going to make for a very uncomfortable 6 weeks if this keeps up!

Know what you mean about the anxiety - I thought this was meant to be the easy bit!

emz you definitely need to cut yourself some slack x