November 2017 #4: Bump botherers, nesting and maternity leave!

[GingerHanna]

In which we swat away unwanted hands, perform military operations every night to roll over in our sleep, clean the kitchen cupboards for the eleventy billionth time and count down the days to our maternity leave!

Previous thread here.

Click here for The List.

Had a mw app today and bump was measured. Came out way above expected so booked in for a growth scan next week. I'm now worried that if baby is big that it means I'll be induced early - does anyone have any advice on how likely that is to happen and how to cope if it does?

@NerdyViking that's exactly what I went through today. The best advice I can give you is to not think ahead too much, wait to see what they find out at the scan.

If they think that you are having a very large baby they will talk you through your options. I found out today mine is on the large size but not giant.

When are you due?

Based purely on experiences of two friends, I don't think the doctors make a decision on induction or sections until very close to your due date.

Babies seem to do all sorts right up to the last minute including growth spurts, growth slowing and wiggling around so plenty of time for change.

Hope things work out for you both @theotherendofthesockportal @nerdyviking.

Thanks, @Zampa & @theotherendofthesockportal, I'll try not to worry too much (although easier said than done lol) I'm due 19th of Nov, so still got a fair ways to go.

@Zampa thanks for reassuring me too. Have been worried about possibly having to be induced early but you've set me a little more at ease. I'm 30+4 and I want to keep positive in these last weeks and every now and then a little slip up happens and it's hard.

I'm super grateful for all the support from our group and really excited for when our bubs appear and we can celebrate each other having made that milestone before we face new challenges and adventures with our little ones.

@nerdyviking. Please try not to worry. My SIL (due a week before me!) was in exactly the same position a couple of weeks ago. They now think it was a growth spurt as he's levelling out more to where he should be in terms of size. They can do all kinds of odd things right up until the last few days from what I can tell!

@sockportal - I hope your UTI gets better soon! They're awful at the best of times.

How's everyone else holding up in general? I'm starting to get tired all over again and feeling enormous but otherwise actually still feeling pretty good overall. Biggest stress I have atm is if I'll be ready for my driving test mid October and if our house sale/purchase will exchange and complete before she gets here!

Nothing like an easy life, eh?

@NerdyViking I got told I was off the scale big based on fundal measurement 2 days before holiday, so went for private scan and it was absolutely fine. Well within normal range and no issues just a growth spurt. Measuring your belly with a tape measure is hugely inaccurate please don't worry

And what @redfragglebiker said, babies move around loads, mine has been head up head down and transverse and at various angles in between in the last month!

Thanks, @redfragglebiker & @lydiangel83, yes I'm hoping it's just a growth spurt. I suppose I'm a bit more worries because I'm quite tall (5'11''), so is hubby and both our families have tall people (mine in particular - I'm nordic and we definitely fall into the stereotype of tall, blonde and blue-eyed). My family also has a history of large babies, so am keen to keep on top of it. Mw did say that baby's head was right down in my pelvis, yet their able to kick me quite vociferously in the ribs several times a day, so thinking it might be a long baby (which would make sense)

Have added in a pic of my bump growth chart for reference

Aww @NerdyViking - I don't think it's time to worry yet. My SIL was frantic and it all calmed down for her. Like you say it could well be that your child is just a long one! Growth chart doesn't look worryingly off the scale to my inexperienced eye either. It's all so easy to worry about everything though, I get that and am the worlds worst for reassuring other and panicking myself.

Unlikely to be about for the next couple of days as going to make a start on packing up all the random shite we don't actually need right now so have a good weekend folks.

Here is my growth chart for you to look at. There is a difference between the tape measure method and the scan results! Still a large a baby but not so scary large!

I tend to have the opposite problem - I'm usually sent for growth scans because they think the bump is too small! DSs were both 7lb-ish so not too, too small. It's not usually until 36w that they get antsy about mine. I'm actually hoping they do it this time too - any chance to see her again & I could take the boys with me.

DD has hiccups. I'm trying to sleep. I prefer the sporadic hard kicks to the incessant tapping of hiccups.

@AGnu I know it must not be as fun for you to experience baby hiccups, but I'm slightly jealous! My friend had it quite a lot during info her pregnancies. I haven't felt any, maybe it doesn't happen for everyone?

Quick update from me whilst DH snoozes in bed next to me!

Hospital check up yesterday. Growth all measuring on track, placenta had moved away from cervix (woot woot!!!) and myoma no change. Happy days.

Baby is back to back but head still down so overall good. Can spin inwards any time including during labour so not too worried, but if still like this when I go on mat leave in five weeks time I will do lots of ball bouncing and walking to try and get him to swivel around.

Bought Ewan the Dream Sheep yesterday and starting to pick up last little bits and pieces now wedding is done. That was the big milestone for me to get through before doing last of baby stuff so feels weird to be here now.

Midwife Monday. Oh, and hospital only want to see me once more before birth when I am 36 weeks so incredibly happy about that!

Great news @GingerHanna!

DD spent several hours crying last night and wouldn't calm down, even in our bed. She's been very unsettled since we moved. Really hope she's sleeping through again by the time new baby arrives!

@GingerHanna I really want a Ewan the Dream Sheep. I have heard that he is very good for babies, plus I really like sheep toys I have already put two sheep toys from the build a bear workshop in the baby's nursery. I had them made for me a few years ago out of my first pay packet, but thought they might enjoy a new home with the baby.

Potentially silly question but what goes on the bottom of carry cot / flat bed of pram? Do you need some kind of liner? We have a silvercross pioneer and the cream base and sides look like they need some padding or something removable / washable inside??

I made a fleecy liner for our pram. I don't think most people bother though - just a blanket under the baby seems to be a normal thing to do!

I'm getting some sheets for ours. Just normal pram sheets - not taken it out of the box yet though so may change my mind later.

Glad the appointment went well @GingerHanna. I've got a scan on Monday to see if my placenta has moved as was under my c section scar at the 20 week scan. Not feeling too hopeful as now she is breech I would expect to be feeling her kicking down there & I can't, every where but there but I guess it could be the way she's lying. Not going to worry about until I know there is something to worry about.

We just put a pram sheet over the little mattress in the pram and then blankets over @lydiangel83. My sister in law has the same pram as us & she had a lovely fleece liner for DNi so going to see if I can borrow that but otherwise will stick with the sheet & blanket.

Hope DD has a better night tonight @Zampa . DS is normally a good sleeper but woke up at 5 yesterday, got into bed with me & proceeded to use my head as a pillow, wouldn't have been so bad if he'd laid still!

What everyone got planned for the weekend? DP is working today so I'm trying to get some jobs done while DS plays so we can have a nice family day tomorrow. DP & I are off to a 40th in London tonight & DS is having a sleepover at Granny's so we'll get a lie in until 8 tomorrow rather than the normal 6.30am wake up. Make the most of the lie ins while you can ladies, sleeping til 8 is now the luxury that sleeping until 11 was!

I am struggling today - Everyone and everything is annoying me. Took my grandma out for lunch for her birthday but didn't have the energy to shout so she could hear me. I think I'm just super tired, another victim of a badly sleeping child as DD has a cough and cold and was up at 5.30am.
We're currently all crashed out in front of Disney junior!

We're getting ewan the sheep - DD wants to get one for the baby :)

I know it must not be as fun for you to experience baby hiccups, but I'm slightly jealous! My friend had it quite a lot during info her pregnancies. I haven't felt any, maybe it doesn't happen for everyone?

I haven't felt any either, or at least nothing that resembles the way they're described. But all movement I feel is muffled anyway due to being fat with an anterior placenta so it's probably just another one of the things I'm not going to experience.

Has anyone found a good remedy for leg cramps? I keep getting cramp in my calf in the middle of the night and have to leap out of bed (no mean feat at 30 weeks) to stamp it out. It's the same cramp I used to get after a night out boozing and dancing in high heels.

I got cramp in my calf a few weeks ago in the middle of the night -DH grabbed my foot and pulled it upwards (toes up towards my knee if that makes sense?). Cramp went instantly! It was miraculous!

My day has been cheered up slightly by a trip to lidl... They have some very cute organic cotton baby clothes so we picked up a few bits

I picked up some of the baby clothes on Sunday @butterybollocks , they're lovely.

We had Ewan with DS & it was great. I got it out again ready to use this time & DS has claimed it as his so will have to sneak it out of his room. He has plenty of toys so hopefully won't notice it's missing.

Hope that you enjoyed your lie in @topsyloulou!

DD slept through for the first time since the move! Hurrah!