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.

Welcome @sarahsarahsarah36 it sounds like we have all hit the same point. Today has been a slightly better day for me, less discomfort than the last few days. I'll embrace it whilst I can.

I feel like I have been pregnant forever! I became pregnant last October but had a MMC in January, i have been pregnant for nearly a year bar the 5 weeks between pregnancies.

I'm trying to enjoy every moment, today I had a kick in a new part of my tummy that made my tummy visibly ripple through my clothes. I love these moments! I can't wait to hold this baby in my arms - she is so precious. Sorry for the emotional moment!

Ah @sock and @sarah I feel the same; so grateful for my baby! Tummy ripples are just crazy and my belly button goes in and out constantly through the day as baby squirms behind it. So weird to watch! I feel like I've been pregnant forever too, it's weird. I was pregnant last May and miscarried in July, got pregnant straight after and miscarried in October. I find it so odd to think this time last year I was pregnant. Other than a few bleak months in between I have been pregnant for over a year! It's going to be weird getting used to periods again come December haha. X

Lydia I did live in London but moved up north due to back and then pregnancy.

I've previously had surgery to remove slipped disc that caused sciatica ( to the point I was in wheelchair before op couldn't stand)

This time I've had sciatica since December through long hours continuously at work. In march I went off sick as I could bend, sit, lie down or dress myself. Found out I was pregnant a few weeks later and thought/ hoped some rest from job would alleviate sciatica.

Did start getting better then when I started doing normal stuff ( putting socks on, loading washing machine/ dishwasher/ picking things off floor/ etc) It went really bad and I was bed bound for two weeks ( weeing on a towel standing up as I couldn't sit or open legs wide enough to wee into anything- very degrading :( )

Had physio since March and through trial and error it's assumed now I have another slipped disc right at the bottom where tail bone is. We are just doing exercises for core muscles very gently to manage it until after baby so I can have MRI/ electrotherapyy/ possible surgery.

I did try to go back to work but without reasonable adjustments back flared up again- not as bad as when I was five months but started going downhill so I went back on sick leave.

I've discussed with consultant that I can't lie on back , I I can't squat or go on knees so apart from standing ( which eventually causes pain too) no position I can give birth in. Consultant seemed to agree and told me back will go worse as pregnancy goes on too. Decision not confirmed yet but I would fight tooth and nail if they tried to suggest vbac as don't know how would physically do it or what harm it would cause.

Not sure that helps you or not?

Sockportal now and then I get stronger kicks which surprise me then make me smile :) I was saying to my sister today I love the feeling of the little bumps and ripples and will miss the feeling after the baby is born

Welcome Sarah when I first became pregnant I cried really easily - sometimes I would laugh at same time as couldn't believe what I was crying about. Now I'm crying less but when I get sad about anything I have to cry I can't stop it if that makes sense I just have to wait until sadness passes.

I came to bed at nine shattered - still waiting to sleep :(

Does anyone know, at 32 week, which way up should baby be?
Also is it normal for it to appear to be positioned diagonal?
reason I ask is, this is my second baby, my dd is now 7 year old so I cant remember every niggle, and just wondered if anyone is experiencing the same?
I can constantly feel something moving under my right ribs but also pressing (almost rubbing feeling) on my left hip bone at the same time, its as if baby hasn't quite dropped even though I can feel movement low down, or as if baby is very big and squashed and pressing against everything at the same time.
Its not the kind of question I feel I should be pestering the midwife about as its not an issue as such, I just thought id see if it was... normal..?

That's an interesting question jam I don't know the answer but I'm interested in what others say .

I only feel movement at bottom of my stomach, no kicks in ribs at moment. I also have a placenta at the front so not sure whether that impacts how much movement I feel at top of my stomach? Xx

@Jam and @Treasure - I was told at my last midwife appt (30 weeks) that it's perfectly normal for the baby to be any which way at the moment as still has plenty of time to turn. My baby is currently breech with head under ribs which can be quite uncomfortable! Then it's hands and feet are straight in front of it, so it's lying in a straight C shape if that make sense!
If it's still breech at about 36 weeks, they will try and turn it but very often babies turn extremely late so not to worry. Hope that helps, your midwives I'm sure will advise at your next appt x

@Jamandbumpsmum that sounds exactly like mine! At last midwives appointment, midwife said that that's where baby was and doesn't feel like bubs has moved. I still get little wiggles all over the place, but mainly I always feel something right against my right ribs. (I'm 30 weeks btw)

But if you're worried, I'd say don't hesitate to ask midwives, that's what they're there for 😉

@Jamandbumpsmum I'm the same, I have a head jammed under my right ribs, which is massively uncomfortable. And all my kicks are in the lower part of my tummy, mostly on top of my left hip. I have an anterior placenta so I have often wondered if the baby moves and I don't realise?!

My midwife said they only really worry about breech babies from 36 weeks. My husband was a breech baby and was born bottom first - I winced my mil told me that! Hope my little girl isn't like her daddy.

I refuse to worry about it all for now, I know the birth is going to happen but I'm not reading about as I don't want to scare myself.

Yup, I've got a diagonal one too atm. Little stroking feelings by my left hip & hard kicks by my right ribs. Totally normal & plenty of time for them to wriggle around yet!

Another diagonal one here too. She likes waving her fists round so get movements at the top on both sides & then kicks at the bottom left side. I am wondering if she's turned in the night as my bump is a lot lower today & lots more pressure in my pelvis.

Oh @TreasureInMyTummy sorry to hear you're having such a rough time that sounds terrible :(

Another diagonal baby here I think - had really bad pain a few days ago which I think I was baby properly turning around. I also like the wriggles and kicks although wish not mostly at night lol.

Back to work tomorrow and then 12 working days until I finish, can't come soon enough!!

Oh im so glad im not the only one with what feels like a diagonal baby. This post on this site always puts your mind at ease to hear from others similar. Not had chance to have a full catch up read as yet as ive not been on for a while, I hope all is going ok for everyone. X just an update on my last post - baby doesnt appear to have been affected too much by the RTA, apart from his funky positioning his kicks and movements are back to normal and sometimes more besides. Went and paid for a 4d scan a couple of week back more for my reassurance and he looked ok on that, well when he let us see his face without his thumb in his mouth or his hand on his head, hehe. so fingers crossed all is ok. Im fully mobile without too much pain again now and able to walk albeit a little waddle. So hopefully here on in should be a nice downward slide to the due date without too much to worry about. Xx

So, wedding survived! I blubbed all the way through the ceremony and barely got my words out, although made sure to be clear that it was all the babies fault due to hormones!

Had a great day but was absolutely shattered at the end of it. Upset not to have bought Tupperware with me as could not bring cake home. So much food left over and too much reflux to eat it all!

Congratulations @GingerHanna you look lovely :)

Glad you're on the mend @Jamandbumpsmum

I've just weighed myself have put on 18kg in 33wks, with 3 of them being in the last 2 wks (holiday related for sure).

Congratulations ginger lovely pictures xxxxxxx

Lydia. It's ok I'm learning to manage it and at least I don't have spd as well :) roll on the next 12 days for you. X

On a positive note with gestation diabetes I have found a boss supportive group on Facebook and its recommended you eat more protein and fat and when eat carbs pair it with protein/ fat. I've just had ryvita and oat cakes with cottage cheese, hummous and turkey with salad followed by croissant with peanut butter and whipped cream inside- did blood an hour later and was 7.2. The other day I had weetabix for breakfast and it was 9.4. Needs to be under 7.8 so I'm made up :) xxx

Aww @GingerHanna you look stunning!

Has anyone else found acid reflux returning. It was the only symptom I had for ages and it disappeared around week 13. Now it's back with a vengence and I'm sick of swigging the Gaviscon already!

Also - does anyone get ripply movements really really low down, like right near their pubic bone? I'm not sure if it's due to an anterior placenta but whenever I feel her it's either really really low or really high near my ribs?

Congratulations @GingerHanna! You look stunning and it looks like it was a gorgeous day.

@redfragglebiker, my movement is weird as well. Either in my ribs or super low down and not much between.

I've also been getting a sharp stinging pain above and to the left of my belly button. I'm convinced I've pulled a ligament or it's my abdominal muscles tearing/splitting

@redfragglebiker I've been getting this a lot, quite extreme rippling very low down. I noticed on my notes from 20 week scan it said I had an anterior placenta but it wasn't mentioned & I only spotted it this week when checking something else! So not sure if it still is / how much it was etc.

Hi everyone, I'm due Nov 20th and am late joining this thread.

Has anyone else been having braxton hicks? This is my first baby and for the past week or two I've been having what feels like period pain, which comes and goes.

It's worse at night and feels kind of like a stitch / period cramps but my stomach doesn't go hard as I've read online. Just wondering if this is BH?

Welcome @meltingmarshmallows I'm not sure if I have had any BH, I have over the past few nights been worked with period cramps which quickly disappeared.

Congratulations @GingerHanna, I love your dress, you look so happy!

I've just returned from a lovely few days away in Somerset, go back to work on Thursday, 12 days left. Although I do have my birthday to look forward to tomorrow:)

I came back to a letter from the health visitor saying she wants to visit and introduce herself and the care package - everything feels so real!

@redfragglebiker I have an anterior placenta and only feel movement really low down or high up at the sides next to my ribs (currently feel like there's a foot stuck in them) - nothing in the middle at all.

@gingerhanna congratulations! Gorgeous photos.

@Treasureinmytummy I've also got GD and I've found much better resources online than any of the info I got from the NHS. My problem is fasting numbers and diet doesn't seem to be helping those but I figure it's still good for me and means I'm not gaining any weight (which is good - I was fat to start with so didn't need to gain).

@NiceCuppaTeaAndASitDown - oooft that sounds painful. Hopefully it's just extreme ligament stretching and nothing is torn.
@meltingmarshmallow - extreme rippling is exactly what it feels like. Really low down!
@AccrualIntentions Wonder if it is an anterior thing then??

Realised I'm not sure if I've done any kind of intro... I'm 36, first child due 23 Nov (little girl) Currently unsure if I should be excited or terrified!!

@theotherendofthesockportal Happy birthday for tomorrow. Xx

Thank you @redfragglebiker and welcome to the group