September #4

[Frillyhorseyknickers]

I couldn't see one - hopefully I haven't duplicated...

A weekend of centerparcs and I'm marshmallowed out!!

Daisy even if you don't have an anterior placenta (I do, but I felt movement from 15 weeks) everyone is different - it could be due to the babys position, your size etc. You could try drinking a glass of ice cold water and then lying down on your back with your hand on your belly and really focusing on any sensations in your lower belly.

Daisy is this your first? It may be that you've been feeling baby, but not realised what it was? I'm 21 weeks now and movements still mostly feel like a gassy tummy...mine are really low down in my pelvis like baby is dancing on my cervix! As LouLou said if you have an anterior placenta that can also mask movements...

Had a lush bank holiday weekend, with the weather so crap on Sunday and DS at his dad's for the weekend DH and I did nothing all day, I didn't even go outside. Just pottered around the house and watched lots of Outlander (mmmm...)

Baby driving me insane with his wriggling this morning, it's like he's not slept at all! I'm also convinced he's going to be the wrong way up when it comes to due date. He was transverse at my scan last week and none of the scans I've had he's' been head down. Also any movements I feel are like little feet or hands but only in my pelvis..I suppose I could be completely wrong and he'll probably be right where he needs to be in 19 weeks, but it just seems odd..

DH felt him move on Sunday though which was really lovely, DS was very jealous when he came home, so going to have to make sure he gets a feel next time..

This is my first yes 😬 Nothing was mentioned about the placenta at the scan. Guess i just have to be patient!

Daisy it should have the position of your placenta in your scan report...? They may not have mentioned it to you, but it should be in your notes somewhere..?

Try not to worry too much, it can take longer for some people. Everything I've read says if you haven't felt anything by 24 weeks to contact your midwife then, so try not to worry until then at least...not easy I know!

Gender scan completed, she was really good practically did what will be done at my 20 week scan all looks good with baby only issue is placenta is anterior again but this time it's low so here's hoping it moves.

And baby was very evidently a boy 😍😍😍

Great news Lou!

I've been looking at my dates and maternity leave etc. Already officially starting ML at 36 weeks which is 14th August. But will have enough holiday to use up to make my last day the Friday before 34 weeks.

This helps me out with school holidays as it coincides, and means I won't need to worry about all day childcare for DS when I'm about to earn lots less money...just worried it's very early...

What's everyone else doing?

Oh I should also add that I'm hoping for an elective section at 39 weeks. So very little chance of me going over to 42 weeks...

20 week scan completed and all looked hunky dory

I'm going to finish work at the beginning of August, use up any leave I have left which should be loads as our year runs from May to April and then start maternity leave. Seeing as I'm not entitled to statutory it makes very little difference when I finish, just want to have as much money from paid leave as possible before I move back in with my parents.

It was my 30th yesterday and apart from when I was cooking I spent most of the day upset. I never thought I would be single and pregnant at 30 especially after being with my ex for 2 years. I haven't heard from him in over a month now and I'm having to get my solicitor involved so I can get my possessions back. It's all such a mess. It's so frustrating that I'm actually having a very easy pregnancy, I feel absolutely fine, no problems at all and I'm still having to tell people I'm pregnant as I don't really look it even at 5 months, but I don't feel able to enjoy it. I've been off work since February and only going back tomorrow as I'm sure they won't pay me sick leave for much longer and as it is I'll only have a couple of months full time.

I have days where I panic that I've not felt enough but they still feel like small movements, it's my first and I have an anterior placenta so I try not to worry. When I'm running around stupidly busy at work it's hard to notice.

Aquanatal at lunchtime was a lovely hour out of the day, but I doubt I'll fit my normal swimming costume by next week!

How did it go frilly?

Just caught up on your thread frilly. sorry you got a slating. I'd be fuming at the receptionist and the way the clinic handled it all.

Oh olivers I remember when I was saying the same thing to a colleague around 32 weeks when it looked like I was finishing at 33/34, I felt guilty for going so early but I had desperate pressure (nursing shifts) and she looked at me and said, "no one is standing out in the car park handing it medals for coming in to work". So that was that! Don't feel guilty, you will never had just one baby again!
Although, don't then proceed to eat your way through till 39 weeks like I did... 🐳

Olivers I'm planning on finishing at 34 weeks (even though my boss doesn't like the idea) DD was born at 35 weeks so it may happen again and I want some time to myself and with just DD before this one arrives.

I had a long chat with my head of HR on Thursday following the anomaly which showed up in our 20 week scan last Monday (still waiting on further test results but trying to remain positive although the wait is horrendous) and she basically told me that my mental and physical health is much more important than my job so finish whenever I like and that if between now and ML I feel like I need a day off here and then not to feel guilty about it and just do it. she said to me, you will never think oh I wish I had gone into work a bit more when you look back on your life but you don't want to look back and wish you had spent more time with your family and on yourself.

So my new mindset is not to feel guilty about finishing at 34 weeks and I'm trying to let go a bit of my job as it's a very stressful and high pressure environment I work in and with the worry out of the outcome of the 20 week scan results. I can feel it really getting to me at the moment emotionally.

So what I'm trying to say is do what you think is right for you and don't worry about what everyone else thinks

Congrats on the scans lou and putting.

Birthday and suzie.

I think I'm going to have 18 August as my last day in work. I'll be 37 weeks that day. A week's annual leave and then start mat leave after the bank holiday. Don't want to go too early in case I am waiting around until 42 weeks but want enough time to enjoy it before baby arrives.

Well, a whole more seven days to wait now until my scan, unless they change my appointment again.

I decided not to get drawn too much into the debate on my AIBU thread but really I'm so pissed off today.

You kind of build yourself up for these things, this is my first baby, I had counted down all the days to my fucking scan and now I have another week to wait and the ward sister was just a patronising whatsit.

Pfft. Mashed potato followed by multiple kinder bars for me. And then a really rough day at work to look forwards to tomorrow.

That's awful fluffy I'm so sorry you have to wait another week - must feel like a kick in the teeth. Hope you have let the hospital know how you feel!

Suzie - so sorry you're having a hard time

Olivers - my last day is 16th August, having an elective cs sometime in the week of the 1st sept so basically finishing 2 ish weeks before baby arrives. I went off at 38 weeks last time and DD was 2 weeks overdue so ended up sitting around for a month waiting - a struggle at the time but I look back on it with fondness. I couldn't have worked on for any longer and enjoyed a nesting period - it just went on longer than expected!

God I must be tired I obviously mean frilly

fluff I knew what you meant I'm a bowl a mash potato and a daim bar down and I feel happier now. Just got into bed with my little dog and my DH who has announced (in a kind of cute way) that he's glad that this week I'm starting to look pregnant and that's exciting! Do you think he reckoned last week I just looked fat

suzie you are doing so well. I know it's easy to feel overwhelmed now so much has changed but you will be ok. And I honestly hand on heart believe in three years time you will thank your lucky stars that your life took this turn. Chin up xx

Oh suzie that sounds so hard. Are you not entitled to maternity allowance?

I'm not sure when I'm going to go on ML. I went at 37 weeks last time but then didn't give birth til almost 42. It's also a lot quieter over the summer. But my enthusiasm for work is diminishing fast although I think I always feel like this towards the end of the academic year.

Lules I'm the same no idea yet I'm only going back tomorrow after this mat leave 🙈 I finished at 36 last time and didn't give birth until 41+2 so I was majorly demented so I'm hoping to work until 38 weeks this time but it just depends on work and a/l..also depends how I feel I'm a scrub nurse so on my feet all day

Aww frilly how upsetting did they say why they changed ur app or were they totally unhelpful

The appointment change sounds like a nightmare Frilly. And I'm sorry to hear things are so tough at the mo Suzie.

Maternity leave wise, I'm planning to finish at the end of July, which seems so soon. I'll be 35-36 weeks. DS was born at 41 weeks so I could have a while of hanging around, but I don't think I'll manage the 1.5 hour each way public transport commute longer than that. The tube in August is not pleasant at the best of times and I'm already wearing a pelvic support band for the SPD.

Suzie I'm so sorry you're having a rough time and that you didn't enjoy your birthday sending lots of and

I think I'm happy with my decision to finish work early, by that stage all the training will have been completed so that they can carry on without me, so I expect I'll be rather redundant! Also it will be nice to have the summer hols to spend some quality time with DS before the baby comes. If this was my first, I'd probably be going right up until the end of August.

Also I worry about the weather and what if it's baking hot and I'm uncomfortable and all I want to do is sit in the paddling pool!

Left DS at school in tears this morning, which is unlike him I hate leaving him upset, it just reminds me that he is still only 4 (not 5 until end of June) so one of the younger ones and sometimes I think it comes out more than others. Also one of the mums was asking me when he went in if he was going to her son's birthday party on Saturday (hadn't had an invite and she called DS Thomas (obvs not his name!) and so when he would usually be waving bye bye and blowing kisses on his way into the classroom mummy was ignoring him really annoyed me too! Grr...not a great start to the day!

Oh, also had a crazy dream about leaking breastmilk last night! I'm planning on trying to harvest colostrum from about 36 weeks to have in the freezer and take to hospital with me and in this dream it was literally pouring out of me!

DS was big when he was born so had to have his blood sugars tested regularly which put pressure on me to feed him before my milk had really come in. So midwives were chucking formula down his throat so that he passed his blood sugar tests, want to avoid that this time if at all possible!

This is my first so can I have some advice on maternity leave? I was planning on working as close up to my due date as possible - is that really naieve? I have about 4 weeks holiday I need to take before I start mat leave and was anticipating two weeks' of this will be before my mat leave starts, on my due date - is that realistic?

Frilly I worked up to 38wks with dd and then took 2 weeks leave before starting mat leave on due date. I'm planning to do the same this time, but not sure if I'll need to finish a bit earlier as I'm finding this pregnancy more difficult (less energy).

I think it entirely depends on the pregnancy. Realistically my last few weeks should be shadowing my cover and tidying up loose ends, so not very taxing.