Come hither upduffed viroids here we will hold your hand through scans, rejoice at your hairy shins and of course share your lust over Ian McShane. It's JS Grads 48!

[Lalalalalaa]

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the 48th grads thread... celebrating the success of Just Shagging in getting us viroids upduffed!

For those that don't know, a 'viroid' is from the original JSing thread 1, where someone was trying to type ladies (in reference to all the JSing ladies), but their phone decided to call us all viroids instead!

The name stuck and we've been the JSing viroids ever since.

The 47th grads thread is here

The thread we have graduated from is here in its 61st outing. WARNING: they're all a bit kerazy not to mention randy!

There is also a Just Mumming thread <a class="break-all" href="//onwww.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/2588689-we-re-still-teething-trying-to-wean-and-our-babies-just-won-t-go-to-sleep-when-we-re-trying-to-js-for-another-one-it-s-just-mumming-no-11" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here for once your babies come along, or to keep up with the graduated graduates!

There is also a private facebook group (so it doesn't give the game away in your news feed!)... if you want to join to see photos of new babies etc, just ask in-thread!

Here is the stats list, please update your own spot with any updates.

corgi Glad all is going well so far and the screening tests came back fine

Sock Hope your foot's getting better?

I'm 31 weeks now and really struggling with lower back pain. I'm so limited in what I can do, I'm doing minimal amounts of walking and standing but still need to do move around a bit! It hurts to turn in bed, get in and out of bed, get in and out of the car... I've decided to see an osteopath that my antenatal course leader recommend, but couldn't get through on the phone and now worrying that I won't be able to get an appointment for a while Does anyone have any tips for the meantime? I was doing gentle swimming but haven't been for ages (too busy) - is it likely to make things better or worse? I'm tempted to go the pool just to float around and go in the spa pool (there's one which isn't too hot!)

should have been lol

Name it sounds like you have PGP (Pelvic Girdle Pain). I had to go onto physiotherapy for mine and the recommend pelvic floor tilts and squats to help. Also, you should try to avoid doing things that have you standing on one leg (sit down to put on your trousers etc) as that increases shearing pain. Also, put a pillow between your legs at night.

Definitely go see a professional though as they can come up with a specific program for you.

Pisghetti I haven't decided on the ELCS yet. My consultant is pushing for that or early induction. I'll hopefully decide in the next two weeks though at my scan yesterday she had her head down (good) but her arm up and her hand on her head! Obviously not the ideal position for vaginal delivery. If she stays like that at her size I'll definitely go for the elective c-section

Thanks for the tips London. Yes I have been suspecting PGP for a couple of days. I've had lower back pain for weeks and it was manageable but seems to have got worse recently. Ages ago I called the NHS physio number and they gave me some generic exercises to do but I haven't been doing them To be fair there were so many I didn't know where to start and what would actually help - I would feel much more comfortable actually seeing someone in person. I'm seeing a midwife on Tuesday so I'll ask her about it (I think there's an obstetric physio clinic at my local maternity hospital, maybe she could refer me?) and also keep trying for an osteopath appointment.

Why is your consultant pushing for early induction?

Do get started on the exercises, Name. PGP doesn't tend to get better until after delivery. Keep legs in-line and together - swing both legs around before stepping out of the car, etc.

I only took newborn sizes in (I think 4 babygrows and 4 vests?). DD was dinky, though, so everything drowned her!

Four nights and two LDs left, Corgi :)

name because my baby is big and I have serious back problems that will be aggravated by a difficult births it better to get her out earlier than risk destabilising my back / pelvic floor

Thanks Chat

London Tricky decision. An obstetrician told me that a big baby doesn't necessarily mean a difficult delivery, and my antenatal course leader said that most newborns have similar size heads even if their bodies are bigger or smaller (is that true?)... but maybe that info is wrong, or there are differences of opinion, if your consultant is recommending ELCS or induction based on the baby's size. It sounds like your back problems must be a major consideration. I think in your situation I would look into the evidence on possible outcomes of induction, chance of it going smoothly v risk of further intervention and complications. In your position I might be tempted to go for ELCS but maybe you're keen to try for a vaginal birth if possible?

Name I had SPD with DD (so kind of expecting to get it again ) and there was very little help available. The midwife just told me to self refer to physio. The physio was just reading out the info I'd already got online (and asking if I wanted crutches - I didn't feel I was that bad) so all a bit pointless really. There was a blissful moment after delivery when I hopped out of bed and whooped because it didn't hurt! I was probably high on endorphins.

6+6 today. When did you all contact GPs/midwives? It wasn't that long ago I did all this and I can't remember!

Pisghetti
Oh dear, not promising! I think I'll just fork out for an osteopath and any help I get from the NHS will be a bonus. Hope you don't get it again this time!
It depends where you live but in my case (and most cases, I think) the first midwife appointment is a booking in appointment at 8 weeks. I booked it directly without seeing the GP but the process can vary - sometimes they insist on you seeing the GP first - so your best bet is to call your GP surgery and ask a receptionist.

Name big baby definitely doesn't mean a difficult birth but it increases the odds of a difficult birth statistically. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fetal-macrosomia/basics/definition/con-20035423

The baby's general position and the size of your own birth canal are also important factors.

I have a friend that had a straight forward delivery at home with no pain relief to 10lb baby so its more than possible, and likely to be more achievable if large babies run in your family as you are more likely to be built for it.

I was a small baby though and the largeness is coming from my husband's side. He was 11lbs and did a world of damage to his mother --- I'm talking about multiple surgeries damage. That combined with my PGP, pre-existing back issues etc means I'd potentially suffer more than a normal woman . Vaginal birth of larger babies weakens / damages your pelvic floor and a healthy and strong pelvic floor is key for spinal stability.

Still I'd like a vaginal birth so I'm working with my consultant on options. Right now inducing a week early when the baby is at term but slightly smaller feels like the right compromise.

If she gets any bigger than currently projected though I'll also consider an ELCS. As it is, she has is facing down but with her arm up and hand on her head! If she stays like that, I won't bother attempting a vaginal birth at all as I'd likely just end up with an emergency c-section which is riskier than a planned one.

Name also, induction only very slightly increases your odds of other interventions-- from 4% to 6% which is reasonable as people being induced usually have other factors that should independently increase the odds of intervention. There is a lot of scare mongering about escalating interventions with induction but the facts don't really support this. I've looked into this in a great deal of detail before my husband and I have decided what to do.

Thanks London, all very interesting and I'll bear it in mind if my baby is big and/or induction is a possibility. Best of luck, your plan sounds very sensible

I'll let you know how we get on. If I didn't have a bad back, I'm not sure I'd be convinced to induce so don't worry if they suspect a large baby. The estimates themselves even using an ultrasound have a +/- margin or error of 0.5 kilos.

How far along are you now?

32 weeks now! The time seems to be flying by. The first trimester was painfully slow but it's been fast since then.

Hello viroids! A couple of stupid questions: when did you first feel movements (if a primip/first timer?) Obviously I'm only 14+5 and not expecting to feel anything until 20 weeks plus, but keep getting odd feeling which I suspect is probably gas
Also when did you start getting a bump? I have nothing to see at the moment, just look like I have eaten a massive meal!

Feel like it is dragging-20 week scan feels like years away!
Can't believe how far along most of you are - name as if you are 32 weeks?!?

I think I felt movements about 17-18 weeks, but thought it was just wind for a while, so it's possible you are, corgi!

As for bump, I was fat beforehand, so although I could feel my uterus from about 16 weeks, there wasn't really an obvious bump until 24ish, before that I was definitely a candidate for the "fat or pregnant?" game!

Corgi I am a first timer and I started feeling movement at around 15 weeks. Just flutters not kicks but I think that is pretty unusual.

I didn't have a proper bump until after 20 weeks. Before then my bump was small enough that if you didn't know what I normally looked like you wouldn't have automatically assumed I was pregnant depending on what I was wearing. I'd say I looked properly pregnant from around 25 weeks.

My baby is measuring really big now though so my bump over the last 9 weeks (I'm circa 34 weeks now) has gotten way bigger!

Hello everyone!
6+2 here so still very early but I was just wondering if you guys developed any strategies of how to cope with nausea/vomiting? I've been feeling sick on and off for days but today woke up feeling awful and have vomited a couple of times.
Thankfully I'm off on study leave so have snoozed this morning but obviously that won't be practical when I'm at work.
I'm really worried as I feel hungover all the time and I am notoriously awful with a hangover- I can't get anything done!!!

Thanks for any advice

Scottish you have my sympathies! I had bad sickness as well (I lost almost a stone). Nothing helped but I did tell my boss when I was 8 weeks along as I just couldn't cope and was sure they'd think I had a drinking problem or something if I didn't let on what the hell was going on. See if you can get some support from work to ease your burden until things naturally ease up.

corgi
"name as if you are 32 weeks?!?"
I know, right?! I remember being in my first trimester and somehow thinking I would never be that pregnant

Lots of you felt movements really early... I was the opposite, I didn't feel definite movements until 22 weeks. Then I realised I had been feeling very subtle movements before that, but hadn't recognised them as the baby moving!

I did get a bump pretty early on, though, or at least my clothes stopped fitting me! I'm curvy but I'm an hourglass/pear shape so it became obvious to me pretty quickly - less obvious to others though. I just had to stop wearing the clothes I had that were a slim fit around the waist and buy some looser tops and tunics. I started buying maternity clothes around the 12-14 week mark - although it seemed early days I figured at least I'd get the wear out of them.

Scottish Sorry to hear your morning sickness is bad. I'm afraid I don't have any tried and tested tips, as I was lucky and didn't really get it myself, but I've heard from others that eating little and often (if you can eat) can help keep the nausea at bay.

Scottish I haven't had much vomiting (only on Christmas Day - thanks Santa!) but I am nauseous a lot and can identify with the permanent hangover which is most unfair when you're laying off the gin. I prefer it to the awful headaches I had with DD and the more reliable morning vomiting I had with DS. Drinking plenty helps a little. Eating little and often can help too. Fairly bland foods - anything too exotic makes me feel worse. Some people swear by sharp foods - eg salt and vinegar crisps. With DS I would kick DP out of bed before me in the morning to grate some ginger into a cup of hot water. I couldn't get up without a few sips of that. It passes in most people at around 12 ish weeks so fingers crossed!

Name I'd be interested to hear how you get on with the osteopath. It would be nice to know if there is something I can do if I get it again.

Pisghetti
I saw the osteopath yesterday afternoon. I had never seen one before so didn't know what to expect and I'm very impressed so far! He identified that my right hip joint was a bit stuck and my round ligaments were very tight, so he worked on loosening and balancing everything. It was a bit painful at times but not too bad. Immediately afterwards I felt more comfortable and able to move more freely. The pain didn't disappear immediately as I felt a bit sore but during the course of the evening, night and today, I've been in much less pain. Still slow to move and slightly tender in the lower back but much better than I was before! Another thing is that my bump feels more comfortable, the muscles and skin seem to have relaxed a bit and the bump has even changed shape - I think the baby has moved up a bit. The osteo did say that releasing the muscles would give him more room to move and hopefully get in the right position (he's breech atm but we still have plenty of time for him to move, fingers crossed!)

Sorry for the essay... the short version is that I'm glad I went If you see an osteopath try and get a recommendation if you can. The one I saw was recommended by several people, and he sees a lot of pregnant women and babies, and he was v good even though it was weird being manhandled by a young man

Oh Scottish you poor thing. No personal advice as I have been fine but my friend swore by ginger tea. And also go to docs and get some antiemetic if you really need it!
Thanks for the bump stories ladies - I can feel my uterus already, it seems to vary in size according to how full my bladder is! But no real "bump" so if you didn't know me you wouldn't notice. But I've always had a very flat tummy and the family have said I look distinctly pot-bellied now.... How kind!
Where to get nice maternity clothes? must not spend a fortune must not spend a fortune

name glad your hip is feeling better, I would definitely consider an osteopath based on your story - not that I can even imagine being in the third trimester yet hahaha!