#TTC1 - Second Wave grads thread the Second!

[kavanaughkj]

Hello all! Welcome to the second thread for the 'new wave' of grads from #TTC1 - the first wave ladies seem to have decamped en masse to Facebook now (I heard weaning mentioned last time I ventured onto it) so this is now officially the place to be!

We're pretty spread out over the pregnancy journey so far with some newbies and some about to pop I'll try to maintain a list so if anybody wants to leave details of due dates and whether you're Team Blue, Pink or Vanilla (I think we're pretty heavily skewed towards Pink at the moment) then leave your details and I'll amalgamate them!

As Moose mentioned in our last thread, please do feel free to join in if this is your first time walking this weird and wonderful path - there is no such thing as TMI and we're all learning off each other!

Hope you had a lovely relaxing pamper day Kav!

Ok, great I shall attempt to set up a grad babies thread then! I've never started a thread but hopefully I'll be able to figure it out!

For those asking I used a combination of bio oil and mamma mio tummy butter (expensive present from DM and then DH bought me a new pot when it ran out) and I very luckily didn't get any stretch marks despite going 12 days overdue. I moisturised twice daily fairly religiously but tbh think it's mainly genetic as well. My mum got hardly any stretch marks in pregnancy.

On the hypnobirthing front I can recommend the Maggie Howell natal hypnotherapy book and cd. Also lots of good positive and inspiring water birth/hypnobirth/natural birth videos on you tube which I liked watching at the end obsessively when I was massively overdue and huge and tearing my hair out with desperation to go into labour

Hey guys I started the Grad Babies thread!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/2984723-The-TTC-1-Grad-Babies-have-arrived?watched=1&msgid=70572809#70572809

Not really sure how to do links so hopefully that works!!

scandal I found the showing thing quite weird. I needed an elastic band on my jeans from around 12 weeks to be comfortable but got away with not telling work until after 20 weeks as no-one noticed my very small bump. It was much more obvious to me and DH. I would say that growth really ramped up from 22-24 weeks for me.

I had my final growth scan yesterday at 36+3. The scan was great - baby is tracking 50th percentile and was head down. After that the registrar went through the normal stuff including listening in to baby's heart with a Doppler. Only problem was that baby REALLY didn't like it and went crazy moving all over the place. I can feel bruising in my side from where she kicked out so much! In the end she stopped and said 'well, we saw it better on the scan anyway'! Since then I can feel that baby is in a different position and I'm pretty sure she's transverse which would be bad news at this stage for a natural labour. Really hoping that I'm wrong or that she'll move back in a few days but it's bumming me out a bit atm. Also having massive pregnancy insomnia which is not helping matters! Sorry for the moan but feeling the need to vent!

Sorry, I feel like my last moan has put people off posting! Hope everyone is doing well

kav how is blood pressure and how are you feeling?

Same for you wanting and mrs! Feeling like your bodies are gearing up yet? (I'm definitely not feeling any different at the moment!)

I had a midwife appointment this morning and we discussed when induction would be for me if I went overdue and it's the August bank holiday! Seems so far away and I'm worried that the hospital would be understaffed...

Not really feeling much yet music except more frequent period type aches but I just had my 38w appointment this morning and baby is only a tiny bit engaged so more bouncing on the exercise ball is required!

We also discussed sweeps and inductions, I can get a sweep at 40+1 and also book an induction for 41 weeks or 41+6. Really want to avoid induction if I can do we'll just see how it goes. I can have another sweep at 40+5 as well so plenty to think about.

music don't worry about the vent, we all need to! I'm told babies can move positions very quickly, hours rather than days, so fingers crossed she does if she's transverse. Baby was back to back for me for a bit but changed position between midwife apts.

Feeling ok here, the insomnia isn't nice at all though! Fortunately I'm on mat leave so can nap in the day or lie in if I'm up for a few hours in the night.

As of 37 weeks baby was 2/5ths engaged so I'll be bouncing on that ball too mrs ! 37+5 today and can't wait for her to arrive! Had a couple of Braxton hicks and lots of period type pain in my back and stomach but nothing to write home about yet.

Wow sounds like you three are well on your way!!!! Exciting watch this space times...

What does bouncing on a ball do??? I noticed a girl in office a couple of years back heavily preg bouncing on ball but just assumed it was to do with comfort or joints...

I made the mistake of skipping breakfast...feel rough now booooo

Oh no missy not good to skip food - being hungry is the main thing hat makes me feel sick, even now at 35 weeks - makes my bump thrash around too so I guess she likes regular mealtimes too 😂

So it's wanting and mrsg up next right? I'm hoping to go in exactly 3 weeks, ideally right after my next hair appointment to maximise time! Getting excited now, brought the cot upstairs to go next to bed (it's been airing out in the spare room in the hope that it will have released a lot of the formaldehyde 😐) and all the little clothes are washed and folded! Still potentially 5 more weeks of work though which is a depressing thought!

How's everyone feeling?

I think mrs and kav are next in line, for the 7th, I think, skip. I'm due on the 9th. 37+6 today. Hoping she gets a wriggle on!

I've been told by my midwife that moving from side to side on the ball helps baby to move down into position. Plus you're sat upright on the ball so good for mum's positioning and will hopefully prevent baby from going back to back, which they say is a more painful position to give birth in.

Very excitedly watching for news of impending births & beautifully easy labours kav, mrs & wanting

Skip how lovely to have everything ready, hope work passes by quickly for you!

Do any of you ladies have any experience of UTIs in pregnancy? Currently 10+5 & on my way to pick up some antibiotics from the docs

Kav and I are both due a week on Sunday, the 6th scary stuff, I've got a few things planned this week to try and not drive myself crazy being at home.

Tonight we're at a baby and child first aid course and tomorrow we have a health visitor home visit!

Fuuuuuck. Just typed epic long post on phone and fell asleep and lost it!!

Let's just say I am looking forward to meeting baby and for the pregnancy part to be over. The rest of my post was mostly rant about shitty levels of oedema, pinprick tests for blood sugars (baby is measuring large. Colour me not surprised as I am 5'8" and DH is 6'5", I would have been more concerned if it were normal or small), back pain rearing its ugly head and feeling generally like a small truck. Getting out of chairs is hard. Putting on knickers is hard. Picking anything up off the floor is we'll nigh impossible.

Your vent didn't put me off, Music ;) Blood pressure is at least under control now since the doctor doubled my meds. Just so ready to not be pregnant any more - getting increasingly paranoid about movements too. Last week I ended up calling the emergency bleep when baby refused to move for a morning - of course en route to the hospital it woke up and started thrashing around way more than usual!

Glad to hear all is going along well for everyone else - sorry about the UTI though Scandal.

Totally feel your pain kav I'm so done with being pregnant and mahoosive. Rolling over in bed is a nightmare and trying to reach my feet to put knickers and socks on is equally hard. I feel enormous and some of my maternity clothes feel restrictive. Baby is measuring on the larger side here too, 6lb 9 at 36 weeks, estimated to be 8lb 9 on due date.

Finding I'm getting a lot of period type pain in my back too. Hoping this is a sign of labour but I've had it for a week or so now, so probably not. Ugh.

Morning all! Sorry I don't post as much these days, just had a quick read through now while Little Fishy's napping. I can answer some questions but can't remember everyone who asked them, sorry.

UTI's - I had one for pretty much all of month 3 solid, it sucked!! I'm prone to them anyway but damn. None since though so maybe it's an early pregnancy thing? Thank God for the free prescription card is all I can say!

Bouncing Balls - meant to help get Baby in a good position and can help with back/hip pain. Some people swear by them in labour, several of my NCT friends did. However it did not work for me, after 1 contraction I was off it like a shot! I actually have one if anyone wants it? You can PM me and happy to mail it.

Early Bump/Clothes - I didn't exactly get a bump early but my waist did disappear which meant I was wearing my work trousers with the button undone and shirt untucked to hide it! I got into maternity trousers as soon as I could order them for work and it felt amazing. Another girl in my office pretty much wore her work trousers up until her due date though so it's definatly different for everyone! I'm normally a size 8/10.

Hope everyone continues to do well and get over all the wonderful hurdles of pregnancy. Can't wait to hear about new arrivals soon!

Baby brain, remembered a few more questions!

Stretch marks - I also avoided them until about 35 weeks them boom! Nice purple ones over the tops of my thighs at the front/side. I was well hydrated (terrified of getting another UTI!) but rarely moisturised. Initially I was really upset by them, especially as they're the purple type. However once Little Fishy was born I couldn't care less. If I ever look at them now and get a bit sad all I have to do is look at her and it's all ok again.

Non PGP Back/Hip Pain - I had this from really early on, about 8 weeks. The only thing that really helped was to lie down, which isn't great for an office worker! Short-ish walks were also good as was using the boyncy ball for short periods of time, but nothing beat a good lie down. Good news is completely gone post-pregnancy!

Funky giraffe bibs have a 25% off sale with the code 'Summer17' ...sorry and and also, you're welcome! 😊

Heavily preggo mama's, Solidarity. I was huge, it was uncomfortable and horrible. It's no consolation now but I promise in 6 months you will have forgotten all about being so massive!

I hope you're right Starkey - I'll be finding out soon though, have been booked in to be induced on Tuesday and am trying not to freak out! Have also been diagnosed with gestational diabetes on top of the pre-eclampsia I already knew about and am trying hard not to Google it as I don't want to stress myself out.

Cant believe I meet this baby finally in less than a week!!!

Less than a week! That's so exciting kav your baby is on the way! It will be fine, everything will be absolutely fine. Go through each stage as it arrives, take whatever pain meds you need and focus on your breathing.

And take proper fizzy lucoazade for labour. Everyone says take the isotonic stuff, but it's not carbs you need, it's the sugar. My MLU had a huge fridge stocked with every flavour kept under lock and key for labouring Mums.

Funny you should mention that - DH has already stocked up actually! I'm mostly nervous about increased pain levels from induction though I plan to have an epidural sited just in case, which I would like to be able to do without but I'm a big baby when it comes to pain, so I'm under no illusions it will be that simple! I'd planned a water birth and I'm not sure that can happen now. Just hoping to avoid the c-section if possible, though I think Mumwould find it poetic justice, seeing as I'm responsible for her scar!!

Kav best of luck for Tuesday, hope all goes well. How exciting that you'll be holding your little baby very soon!

It was my last day at work yesterday so I'm officially on maternity leave now! its been so stressful at work, I'm glad I can have a bit of a rest before baby arrives. Plus there's so much cleaning & sorting that I want to do.

Hope everyone is ok.

Good luck to Kav, mrs and wanting. Thinking of you all for these coming weeks. Very excited for you all to have your babies soon .

Hope everyone else is doing ok.

Enjoy the mat leave star **

Exciting that you have an induction date kav really hope it's a better experience than your expecting and that baby kav plays ball and arrives nicely without the section.

I have my 20 week scan tuesday, hoping everything will be ok, I have a tiny bump (for those that know I'm pregnant)/still look like I've had too many cakes for those that don't. But have now actually put on some weight (1.5kg) which seems to have just arrived over the last week. Still can't feel a thing but I was told my placenta was anterior.

Ah kav sorry to hear about the GD on top of the pre-e. Fab that the induction is while you're at full term though - hopefully your cervix will have been softening for a while in preparation! I share your thoughts/concerns about induction and I will also have an epidural lined up in case I need it if it comes to that. So exciting to have a date that you know you will kick off baby's arrival!

Star yay to finishing work! I have been off for a week now and I have suddenly realised that if I go two weeks overdue I potentially have another 4 weeks of mat leave with no baby! Hoping that doesn't happen and that being off work will get me in a relaxed state ready to kick start labour...

Ohbilly that's interesting about lucozade. I have never liked the stuff (although haven't tried many flavours) but it seems to be the only thing that people suggest. Guess I should just go out and experiment with some!

mrsg hope it's your time this week!! I have a few things to distract me this coming week but probably not enough. Having my hair done on Wednesday which is necessary to hide my early greys!

We have 8 of our friends and family coming over for a BBQ today. It was originally supposed to be a baby shower type thing but that really freaked out both of our mums as they hadn't been to one before and didn't know what to expect so it's now just a get together. I have made a big calendar though so that people can place guesses on baby's arrival date and suggest names (really nosy to find out what people think we will name her!) I could probably do without the faff of hosting something this close to due date and to top it off it looks like it's going to rain this afternoon and our cat brought us a pigeon gift this morning which we had to clear up. Putting on my big girl pants though and going with it!

Hope others have a nice weekend lined up!

MrsBlue how are you doing?

Glittery best of luck for scan on Tuesday. Let us know how it goes. Will you find out baby's gender?

Music how have you been finding maternity leave? Many said to me I'll be bored before baby arrives but I can't imagine that as I have a list of things I want to do.
I don't like lucozade either but may have to get some after reading Billys post. Need to finish packing my hospital bag as it's been half done for a couple of weeks now!
Hope the BBQ goes well.

How exciting you'll be meeting your baby on Tuesday Kav! Good luck, you'll rock it! You can do this, and lots of people have perfectly straightforward inductions that don't result in a c-section. Billy's advice of taking one stage at a time and just focus on what's happening in the then and there is what I was about to say.
Also, re lucozade, we'd bought quite a few bottles for my labour but I was so sicki couldn't even face drinking them. I didn't manage to eat anything for 24 hours and the midwives just kept feeding me glucose energy tablets which were a lifesaver, don't think I'd have managed otherwise. So maybe consider some of those as an alternative too. Though think I was unlucky with how much I puked!

Oooh thanks for the bib tip billy, baby marmite is SUPER drooly at the moment, and constantly gnawing her wee hand! (Early teething?!?!)

Hurrah for starting mat leave star!