October 2017 #5!

[GimbleInTheWabe]

Hope no one minds me setting up a new thread- we were getting full up on the other one!

Here is the link to the deets sheet, feel free to add or edit your details as you please:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pa8LZMKMLvREYH4kFiNqn1dD7aTb053cT_KHvghwvSM/edit?usp=sharing

Bring on the third trimester aches, midwife appointments and birth plan chat!

Hello- I've not been on these boards since maybe the very first thread when we all found out babies were on the way!

I'm almost 36 weeks now and desperate to get this baby out. I really can't imagine being pregnant for another 4 weeks or maybe more! Gah!!!!!

Well I've just decided having a baby is possibly the most stressful emotional roller coaster that there is!!

They did accept my decision and said would I mind if they at least scanned me so I consented to that- and against all the odds and much to the surprise of the doctor and us the little tinker is now lying head down, happy as Larry. So my admission lasted less than 3 hours, I've been sent home and have another scan booked first thing Monday- if they're still down they're happy for me to be midwife led again and even have my water birth... if they aren't it's admission and elec c sec again- but she seemed optimistic that they'll stay where they are given their current position. Just can't believe it and now sat at home not knowing what to do with my unexpected regained freedom! I was told things today that completely contradict what I was told on Wednesday by a different doctor but frankly I'm just happy to be home. And at full term tomorrow (😱) so I'll have beaten the odds of getting to full term with an intact baby and not premature birth- winner! Hope you're all ok and have great weekends! Xx

Well- 37 weeks, but dr said that's full term in their eyes!

mummabubs that's great news! Fingers crossed bubs stays put! Mine is still breech as of this morning at the midwife appointment (following a rather overdramatic admission to the maternity unit the other night when I posted about losing the plug, followed by some delightful braxton hicks etc etc etc - just monitored me for about four hours and sent me home, felt like massive drama queen).
They have started to make noises about an evc for me too... but obviously I am a bit behind you at 34+5, so lots of time for her to get a wriggle on, plus we are moving this weekend (😱😱😱) so if that doesn't shift her then I don't know what will!
Enjoy your new found freedom this weekend!

Definitely plenty of time @boxesoffrogs, position shouldn't even be considered a concern until 36 weeks according to guidelines as changing positions before then is completely expected and normal 😊 My antenatal teacher recommended the "cat" stretch and "rolling cobra" (providing you don't have SPD) for encouraging breech babies to turn and this does actually seem to have some evidence backing to it. That and bouncing on yoga balls and aquanatal ... I've been doing all of these for the past few days/weeks and am now resorting to just pleading with Bubbabean to stay put! 🙈 xx

PS good luck with moving!!! Xx

Thanks mummabubs. My midwife (and hospital midwife) seemed overly concerned that baby is still breech - I thought there was still plenty of time for her to move as well.
Am giggling a bit about me attempting either yoga move right now, bump has had a growth spurt so it would probably require a crane to get me up after!
Just been recommended a ball thingy as well, so off to Amazon I go.
Good luck with the move, eh? Just had a relaxing bath to prepare me for the packing, got into the bedroom to discover my darling dog has pissed all over the bed. She has done that once before since she was toilet trained as a puppy. Why? Just whhhhyyyy? I have no time to wash and dry bedding and a duvet for tomorrow morning!!! Perhaps it's a sign? At least she pissed on dp's side and not mine! Please send non alcoholic wine and gin...

Oh god, naughty pooch!! If it makes you feel better our very well-trained dog also started being incontinent in the house recently despite 4 dry years... took them to the vet as I was worried they had a physical problem (they're 8 so starting to enter older age-ish) and they diagnosed it as stress related to my pregnancy as I probably smell different to him now due to hormonal changes! 🙈

With the position as I said I'm 37 weeks tomorrow and head down is the third position bubba has adopted in as many days. (Although I do have a stretchy womb which might mean they can move more easily), but everyone I've ever spoken to has said before 36 weeks it's really not an issue! Fingers crossed yours moves! Just check with yoga ball that your knees are lower than your hips/pelvis when sat on it- apparently if they're not you need a bigger ball as it won't help baby move down! 😊 x

That is really good news @mummabubs, hope your little monkey stays head down now!

At least your dog didn't wee on your side @boxesoffrogs! Maybe it can sense that there are a lot of big changes coming up and is a bit stressed.

There seem to be a few of us with breech babies and it is strange how differently various medical professionals have reacted to it. My sonographer really wasn't worried yesterday (34 weeks) but the registrar was and wanted me to come back for another scan at 37 weeks. I suspect he turned this morning and is head down again anyway (as my heartburn has improved but constipation has got worse!)

@TippetyTapWriter I don't have the chicco bedside crib but I have the snuzpod and there is a little gap between the bed mattress and crib mattress where the wood frame is. I just rolled up a towel and stuffed it between them to plug the gap, seemed to work!

I haven't posted in ages as went through a long phase of sticking my head in the sand but after 12 early MC's I am now 35 weeks pregnant today. Starting to feel real and will be spending this weekend getting DH to pull out all the baby things. Sons are getting very excited. My body is falling apart thanks to hypermobility and PGP, this will definitely be our last baby. So after spending a good chunk of my life trying to not get pregnant and then spending the last 4 years trying to stay pregnant, I now have a maximum 23 days of my life left being pregnant. Feel a bit sad and wish that it had been more enjoyable but I've been anxious the whole of this pregnancy and fully identify with whoever it was that posted that their children had lost their normal mommy as I've been grumpy and short tempered and my boys have been playing up so it's not been a fun time lately. But 23 days max until the ELCS. Have a niggle she may come early as she is so low but trying to take each day one by one. Back for next scan on the 26th. Paranoid about movement and knicker checking for any signs. Boxesoffrogs with ds1 I lost a big chunk of the plug at 35 weeks exactly and my waters broke whilst I was asleep at 38+5. So try not to worry, it's rare for labour to start just like that after one part of the plug comes away.

Has anyone who has big boobs found anywhere selling reasonable priced wrap sleep bra's? I had some from mothercare but they've seen better days but they don't seem to have their own brand ones in stock now, and I need a big size to cope with my comedy boobs that most places don't sell.

Re ecv and CS, they definitely can do earlier cs's particularly if you cite maternal anxiety. My CS is booked for 38+2, consultant was fine with 38+0 in principle but that's a Saturday and they don't do ELCS here at weekends. You'd struggle to get them to do one earlier as research says there are high chances of breathing problems and other issues if born earlier, even at 38 weeks they want steroids doing. If you go into labour early then the risks are lower as the body/hormones prepares the baby anyhow but it's when you just whip them out that the risks are higher. But I just want this one out safe and soon and they are wanting to ensure she doesn't get too big for me as ds 2 needed forceps to yank him out during his CS as he was wedged in so tightly. Plus I'm petrified of placenta failing as lots of links between recurrent losses and placental failure and premature births. May go insane over the next 23 days!!

@mummabubs yay! That's great news! Now bubbabean just needs to get nice and comfy and stay put down there. Maybe try and go for a long walk this weekend if possible, I've heard that's supposed to help too.

@TippetyTapWriter I don't have the Chico but I also have the snuzpod. There's a little gap as our bed frame is also quite chunky but I think my plan is to keep the side of the crib up unless I'm getting him out in the night. Does the Chico have a up and down side or is it one you have to take off? I agree that maybe a small rolled up towel to bridge the gap might be the best idea.

Welcome back @Loopyaboutmy2boys and @asilikeit!

Also @KitKatSplat I hope you're enjoying your weekend away! I'm v jealous as I dropped a few hints to DP about possibly going away for a few days before baby is imminent and he really didn't get it ha.

I am 38 weeks on Monday just starting to feel the impatience of wanting to meet this little guy already and watching for labour signs all the time.

Ooooo it's getting to exciting times @GimbleInTheWabe! Hope you start to see some signs soon, I know at 37w today I'm feeling impatient already!! I've been lucky in staying quite active throughout pregnancy with dog walks, aquanatal and yoga, so I'm sure it does help even if just to keep me feeling sane! I've gone back to keep needing to pee which I'm hoping is still a good sign that bean is head down. (I have an anterior placenta so whilst I can feel them moving it's harder for me to suss where the little pickle has relocated to- apart from last night when something that was quite clearly a foot popped out just below my ribs, husband and I were mildly horrified!) 😂

Hope yours has also gone head down @PingusMistress! I think they weren't so worried about breech with me but more the combination of breech to unstable lie in a transverse position plus bicornuate uterus. But then having said that the doctor I saw on Wednesday was very doom and gloom and successfully put the fear of God into me whilst the specialist registrar I saw yesterday was if anything very laid back about it and seems very optimistic that a natural birth is still on cards providing Monday shows they've stayed down. Normally I'm all for evidence-based practice but I've definitely become mildly obsessed with looking up all kinds of quirky things that are supposed to encourage baby to engage!! 🙈🙈

Your head must be spinning mummabubs but really good news she's head down now! Obviously you have an explorer on your hands but hopefully she gets comfy and stays down!

boxes still time for baby to move. My midwife wouldn't even comment on position until I saw her at 35 weeks. I have a position scan next week when I'll be about 36.5 weeks, I think they normally only care after 36 weeks because my last pregnancy the scan was done after 36 weeks too.

gimble definitely on the home stretch now! These last weeks seem a combination of painful waiting and flying by. I'm already symptom spotting and driving myself mad. Need to stop thinking about it, could still easily have another month to go!

Thanks for towel tips for the chicco. Just seems daft that something especially designed to fit next to a bed doesn't take into account the existence of bed frames?! It has a side that goes up and down but it seems like it'd be faffy to use once it's next to the bed as you'd have to move the crib away a bit to fold the side down. I thought it'd just cleverly drop down or something. Glad I got given it for free as a hand-me-down and didn't buy it new or I'd be a bit miffed.

Wow, that's a pretty nifty freebie @TippetyTapWriter, they're £200 new! We've paid only a little less for a Tutti Bambini Cozee and whilst I do love it I think both DH and I think side-sleeping cribs are a lot of money given you only use them for 6 months, a freebie would have been amazing! Thank you, I'm hoping Bubbabean stays down!!

Hi All
Hope you are all good. I'll be 37 weeks tomorrow! Scared myself last night though. I was walking to my friends car after a meal out & slipped in a massive puddle front down on all 4's. Luckily my hands & knees caught the brunt of the fall but my tummy landed I'm the puddle & I was soaked. She decided we best phone the hospital (she had to phone her sister in law for the number) my notes were at home. I didn't realise you're supposed to carry them everywhere from now on. I went & they stuck a monitor on me,for heartbeat & movements & all was ok thank god. On the plus side I've found out where in the hospital I need to go for labour & that youre supposed to phone when it starts. I did scare myself a little though so think I might just stay in the house for the next few weeks 😬 I've been on constant lookout for labour symptoms too even worrying if the fall could bring it on. I've only had an increase on discharge which midwife said is hormones & can't do much now without feeling tired. x

Great news @mummabubs, what a turn up for the books! Hopefully bean will stay that way.

@butterflygem sounds like a real scare, I'm glad you're both ok. Its always scary when they strap you in to those monitors. When are you meant to start carrying your notes? I've mostly packed my bag but its still in the spare room. I'm 34 weeks and dh often takes the car out without me so seemed silly to take it in and out all the time.

Yeh I think just your notes from about 34/35 weeks apparently. Just so I'd anything happens out & about they have your details all I had to remember was my blood group though but the midwife did tell me off a little buy how are you supposed to know of no-one tells u! Hosp bag can always go & collect I suppose, mine still at home I need to add a few bits like toothbrush & an outfit for me to com home in, but I'm wondering if you should carry that about too. I didn't have my car last night just as well as I was in too much shock to drive. I can't wait til all these babies are born it will be such a relief but I bet the worry will continue lol xx

We're parents now, I don't think the worry ever stops. I work 5 mins from home so if anything happened there someone could easily pop home before I went to the hospital. Guess I'll start taking my notes places now (is it awful that it'll depend on the handbag I'm using?) Closer to the time I'll have to be more precious about it. I have my blood donor card in my purse anyway.

Blimey @ButterflyGem , that sounds a bit scary and dramatic, very glad that you are okay. They offer a hospital tour here so you can have a look round and see the triage, labour rooms, maternity wards etc - it's a pity you had to fall over to get to see those parts of your hospital!

I also didn't realise you are supposed to carry your notes with you, I think mine would get tatty very quickly. My top tip is to photocopy, scan or take photos of them, as they take them away a few days after the birth, and I found I wanted to go back and see what was in them when I got pregnant again.

It really feels like there will be a thread baby soon, so exciting! Who will be first?

I agree that bedside cribs are stupidly expensive, but you can re-sell them for a good price. DD was in hers for nine months (small baby) and we will be using it again this time round, so hopefully getting a bit more value for money.

I've had a very productive day today. Packed my hospital bag, washed all the crib and Moses basket bedding, gone through two years of baby/toddler clothes and sorted into keep/eBay/charity bags, put away new baby things in the resulting space, etc. Now I'm knackered and my hips are killing me, but I feel much less stressed.

@butterfly, my midwife told me that I should carry my notes on me at all times as soon as I received them at 12 weeks. They have permanently lived in the boot of my car throughout my pregnancy.

I'm 36 weeks on Monday and have my placenta placement scan on Monday as well to see if it's still low lying. Baby was head down at my last appointment, but not yet engaged.

I am feeling pretty tired and emotional at the moment and keep getting scared about the labour. Just want a natural birth, absolutely terrified of needing interventions.

4 more weeks feels very soon to me, but I keep thinking it could happen even sooner. After years of trying to conceive, I can't believe how weird and scary it feels to be actually having this baby. Except for the heartburn and aches and pains I could happily wait another couple of months.

I finished work on Thursday and thing that's probably why I'm starting to get so nervous.

I started to pack my hospital bag earlier and am struggling to fit everything in. I underestimated the size of bag I would need and have had to use a different one which is still a bit small. I've decided that some stuff will need to go in DPs bag 🙈.

Just wish there weren't so many possible ways things could go. I'm such a control freak normally.

I was also told to carry my notes everywhere with me from 12weeks onwards (also dictates which bag I used @Bobbiepin and yep my notes are now V tatty @PingusMistress ha!). TBH I haven't taken them every time, only if I'm going out for more than a few hours or straying far from SE London.

Anyone else find that if they get stressed they get really stressed? I'm not a v stressy person but I've become a lot more sensitive since I've been pregnant. For example today DP said he'd go to Sainsbury's to get what we needed for lunch and dinner, we don't have a car so it's a walk up a v steep hill (if you know Crystal Palace you'll know it's SO HILLY). He wasn't staying for lunch so was doing it as a favour and anyway he decided instead to watch a boxing match which meant that I had to rush out to get the stuff as my friend is due any minute now and I only just had time to make the soup. It's not a big deal but honestly I could've cried I felt so angry! I kept having to remind myself to chill out (especially since I keep falling over ). Just me?!

Baby is in a v strange position today.. really hoping he's not decided to flip reverse it at the last minute!!!

Hope everyone is doing OK today

Can I just have a wee rant about people sharing horror stories? I mean the totally unsolicited ones delivered in a jokey style about how your life is ruined, detailed rundowns of how awful birth was, you'll never sleep again etc.

Totally different from when someone has had a traumatic birth or is struggling and needs a friend to talk to, I don't think anyone should suffer in silence.

But what do you say to these people? I want to scream at SIL - if your life is absolutely terrible now, why the fuck did you have three? Or the waiter in the restaurant we were in yesterday - he says 'congratulations' then winks and says 'or should that be commiserations?' I mean FUCK OFF.

Sorry, rant over.

Oh @AgentCooper I sympathise. I had that with DD and by month 8 the best reaction I could give was a basilisk stare.

There's something about the pregnant woman that turns people into fucking slack-jawed, verbal effluent-sharing IDIOTS. Mention that it's your first and you'll get the same chat but with added horror.

People are utter dicks at times. I do understand that 99% of people mean well but when you're at week 35+, riddled with rib pain, reflux and a comfortable night's sleep is but a memory I think most courts in the land would forgive the swinging of a pinch or two.

*punch

(It's not first of the month is it?!)

Absolutely Legend, not a court in the land would convict us! This is my first baby and the tales of terror are coming thick and fast. I really wonder what purpose it serves - none of us expects the whole experience to be a holiday in the Caribbean. My DM keeps telling me it's just drama llamas who who want you to thinking they're heros.

Honestly, I posted a wee something on Facebook yesterday about having enjoyed a wee lie in after a heavy week at work and Jesus Christ, cue the chorus of YOU WILL NEVER EVER SLEEP AGAIN, YOUR LIFE IS OVER.

Thanks for the sympathy