August 2018 #6 - Impending Births and The Final Push!

[peterpanwendy]

Into months 7 and 8 of our pregnancies now.. this will most likely be our last 'pregnant' thread before we all have our babies!!

How did we get here? Feels like just yesterday we were waving hello from the TTC boards.

If anyone new would like to join please do, we also have a very busy (private) Facebook group for everyone due in August 2018.

My DD had a 'taster morning' in primary school today. Its the first time she's been in on her own and she's normally incredibly shy, especially in new situations. But she stunned us all and just trotted in with the other children, didn't even look back and say bye!!! When we went to pick her up she was so happy and you could tell she was really proud of herself. So we went for a McDonalds treat lunch. I'm so happy for her. And I managed to not cry!! Win!

Congratulations, birdy - an emotional time for you all, and glad they are taking good care of you.

Sorry, I'm a total lurker and only very occasional poster to this club. Mentalness with work is the main reason. I'm 35 weeks now, and I also have terrible back pain. I didn't have it so bad with my first baby, but it's awful the last month or so. Always the same spot - above the waist on the right hand side. Starts aching around 3pm and can be unbearable by evening time.

I'm also super cranky and tired - the heat I guess. I have so little patience with my toddler who is driving me round the bend, but is really just being a toddler and pushing boundaries. Poor thing. I have no energy to play with her or take her to the park by myself or anything. I just can't manage her - she's very wilful, a bit of a bolter, and often has to be carried because she can't be trusted to walk beside us.

Last appointment (33 weeks) baby was breech. Again - my first was stubbornly breech all the way through. I have a sneaking suspicion this one may have turned head down, but I'm 95% sure I'm going to go for another elective section anyway. I had a good experience with recovery last time. I know it'll be difficult with a toddler at home, but there's no guarantee of a good recovery with a vbac either, and I know I would refuse forceps and probably ventouse, so there's a high chance I'd end up with a section anyway.

Sorry, late to the party here but Congratulations @Birdy1978, she's just beautiful x

Awww Emma that's lovely :)

Sounds like a plan badb - when will you get your date do you know?

Glad you are feeling a bit better Gem.

I'm exhausted again today. Doctor's this morning and then extra work this afternoon. I barely saw DS when I got home as I just went straight to bed! I am also struggling to stay hydrated and frustrated with it because it seems every time I drink it makes me need to wee and I'm weeing it out quicker than I can keep it in. Even at my doctor's appointment I was only waiting about 20 minutes between getting my blood taken and seeing the doctor and she asked if she could do an internal and I stood up and said oh god, I need to go to the toilet first! I'm sure he is pressing on it.

Anyway they did another scan to check position and I got a cute picture of him pressing his face up against the placenta like a pillow :o She reckons he's likely to be a little bigger than average but not big enough to cause any concern. Estimated weight today at 33+4 2600kg! Which is about 5 and a half lbs. DS was only 6lb 11 so if she's right he might be quite a different beast. But she said it's normal for a second baby to be bigger and when I thought about it, I've been eating and taking care of myself better this time, as last time I was in a stressful relationship and my ex was really crap and used to control all of the food etc in the house so I was only eating about once a day as there was never anything to make myself - just makes me realise how far I've come as I'd never just accept that kind of treatment now!

@Emmasmum2013 I’m glad she done well and has made some new friends! Bet il be a crier when I send my kid off into the wide world haha
@badb my baby has been head down since 28 weeks and hasn’t changed, (touchwood) but now I bet I’ve said this he will go and turn around haha hope the pains and aches ease off, try to just sit and relax.
@Bertiebotts I have issues trying to stay hydrated, it’s so hard especially when every time I drink quite a bit I feel bloated for ages! I haven’t ever been told the estimated weight of my baby? Is it something you have to ask? I don’t know how big he’s gunna be tbh, although I look quite big now, when I went to the last antenatal class yesterday I swear to god I had the smallest bump there and many women there were due September too!
Day 2 of being off work, asides from feeling lighter down below, my back is still hurting and I’m super gassy 😩 hope everyone has a good day today, not long left to go. 4 weeks and 2 days left at work for me (23 days at work excluding weekends).

Also @BertieBotts sorry to hear about your controlling ex. Hope your current partner is treating you better and with respect. My partner although annoying has done nothing but be supportive. He comes home with flavoured waters, cranberry juice, sweets or chocolate and when my head is telling me to go back to work because of how guilty I feel, he’s the one telling me to calm down relax and to rest as our baby is much more important at this stage and that I have the right to be off with aches and pains especially when 33 weeks pregnant.

Anyway bump photo update :) ignore the horrible clothes they are oh swim shorts without the netting, they are super comfy and don’t strangle around the waist!

@Gem173 glad to hear the antibiotics are kicking in, def get as much rest as you can and don't feel bad if you need to be signed off!! I also have 4 weeks 2 days left of work, can't bloody wait.

Ahhh @Emmasmum2013 that is lovely about your daughter (..and the Mcdonalds lunch )

@badb that does sound painful, I don't blame you for feeling cranky and tired. Do you think your back is down to the baby being breech still?

I also want to refuse forceps/ventouse if it means having an episiotomy but wasn't sure if it is something I could actually ask? I had some surgery down there for medical reasons and didn't heal well and also got an infection, the thought of having to have stitches down there again is awful.

@bertiebotts wow that's amazing! I was told on Monday that baby is almost 5 lbs and I am just over 33 weeks, no idea how accurate it is but I feel that he is going to be on the larger side. Also glad to hear you are in a much better and positive place this time around

I don't know, I'm in Germany and they do lots of things differently here so perhaps telling you the weight is part of that? One difference is that my gynecologist who I see for check ups instead of a midwife has an ultrasound machine right there in her office so it's much more commonplace to be scanned here as you don't have to go to hospital. I think in the UK it's only if you have a growth scan for suspected high/low weight they let you know.

DH is indeed lovely and extremely supportive :) I'm so glad it's different this time around.

@BeesKnees9 @Gem173 you can see the estimated weight by looking at your growth chart and following whatever centile line your bump is on to the 40th week.

@BeesKnees9 You can always decline an episiotomy/ventouse/forceps etc if you want. They can't make you do anything you don't want to do. It may be worth speaking to your midwife about what options may be suggested instead if you refuse those though. You could also ask her about the stats for tears which require stitches (I think they say second degree or worse require stitches so they may be needed even without an episiotomy). I don't want you to be freaked out by it all though - I had tears last time and they healed no problems whatsoever, but I understand your worries given your previous situation.

@BertieBotts, bloody hell your ex sounds like a right nasty piece of work. I'm so glad you're free of that now and with someone better.

I'm totally shattered, keep having really crap nights sleeps. DD came into our room at about 1am last night. DH came to bed not long after that so thats 3 in a bed, and the bump.. I keep snoring (it only ever happens in pregnancy and having the fan on to keep cool in the bedroom doesn't help either) so DH can't get to sleep and keeps nudging me awake to stop snoring. DD is fidgeting because now she can't get back to sleep either. DH eventually has enough and goes to sleep on the couch (I'd have gone if it weren't for DD who would probably kick off if I tried to get out of bed). So then its me and DD in bed and I can't get back to sleep. And I feel bad that DH had to go on the couch.

2 weeks today til mat leave though, so that's keeping me going!

I keep forgetting we have this thread as I mostly post on the facebook group now! It doesn't feel like 5 minutes ago we were all tentatively posting our BFP's and now we're weeks away from meeting our little ones! Congratulations to @birdy1978 your daughter is beautiful!

I am now 36+1 and wondering when the nesting stage will start to kick in?! I've never been one to love housework but I have got the urge to want the whole house spotless and smelling nice! As I say though it is just an urge

I had my health visitor appointment yesterday. She seems nice and just talked through her role and what to expect from her and then handed me some leaflets and off she went!

I have my last planned growth scan on friday when I'll be 36+3! Looking forward to seeing him again and finding out what the next steps will be.

Looking forward to start seeing some babies! Nearly time to be classed as full term! Isn't that just mind blowing!!

Hope everyone is well and keeping cool in this ridiculous heatwave!

Bertiebotts, I'll probably book in for the section with my consultant next week at my 36 week appointment. She has her theatre list on Mondays, so it'll be 13 August, unless I go into labour early of course. Hopefully not!

Beesknees, I don't think it's the breech position. Honestly, I think it's a combination of running around after a toddler, and just being a bit heavier this time (bump is definitely bigger, and I was lighter and fitter when I got pregnant with my first).

Regarding refusing various interventions - I'm not in the UK, so others will have better advice. They can be pretty crap where I am regarding consent, though, and very quick to intervene in general. They have a very tight schedule for vbac progression, and looking at the stats, the vast majority of successful vbacs have some combination of forceps/ventouse/episiotomy. Plus, I wouldn't be guaranteed my own consultant (who, frankly, I'm paying handsomely for!), so I think the elective route is better for me. I'm a bit of a control freak.

I had hoped to finish up work a bit earlier than planned, but it's now looking like that's not going to happen - a deadline that I said I couldn't meet has been pushed back specifically to allow me to meet it. Sigh. I know they think they are doing me a favour by extending it, but really I would have preferred to just bow out gracefully. Now the pressure's on to meet the new deadline. Grr.

37 weeks here today so technically full term now I think. 16 days until my c section now I'm starting to struggle to get about now. The baby is incredibly low down and I'm waddling a bit.

Low baby here too youcantbesirius! Had a growth scan this morning and she said the head was really far down, and the baby estimated weight has jumped up through the centiles a bit. Seeing consultant tomorrow so hoping for a plan/induction date to be sorted.
I’m definitely nesting now I’ve spent the majority of the day deep the kitchen!

That was meant to say deep cleaning the kitchen

9 days left of work for me.. I am in single digits!

I am the opposite, I am carrying so high. I'm so uncomfortable around my rib area, can't bend and sitting in the same position for too long hurts! Also been getting so much pelvic pain since the weekend. Turning in bed is agony :( I've been so lucky with my sleep up until last night where I kept waking up due to nightmares. I'm 33+3 today so got a while left. So excited to be on mat leave, be able to lay in and just soak up all these lovely movements, I'm rushed off my feet at the moment!

My nesting has only so far involved interior design and organising things. I probably should be deep cleaning the kitchen but I keep thinking about painting the en suite bathroom and light fittings. haha.

I did get my car MOT and tax sorted today though which I'd been putting off so that's good.

My nesting is finally starting. Today I cleaned the old car seat and the single pram (which is now being stored in the cellar).

Also had my 34w midwife appt and she confirmed he has now turned from transverse to head down. I'm now being sent for a growth scan too though as my bump growth has allegedly slowed down. I had 3 growth scans last pregnancy so not worried about that - just hoping they can fit me in tomorrow whilst DS1 is in nursery as we have plans Friday which I'd hate to have to cancel.

Just look at the link below at what the baby does to your bladder... no wonder we always need to pee!

i.imgur.com/d7n3eIH.gifv

@Emmasmum2013 omg that is so weird! My body just involuntarily shivered 😂

@Emmasmum2013 omg look at all the other organs! No wonder I constantly feel full up and sick!

@gem173 ahhhh i missed your bump pic the other day - you are looking great!!

Thanks @gizzymum, for some reason I am ok with the thought of tearing and needing stitches but being cut on purpose in that way really puts me on edge - I will have a chat with my midwife next time when I see her.

Nesting in full force now I need to buy a chest of drawers/changing table, I would of done it ages ago but a family member said they would give us one which was very kind of them.. but now they are being very awkward and I can't be bothered with it all! I have piles of stuff everywhere and no where to put it and its doing my head in

@emmasmum2013 that is mesmerizing and terrifying at the same time, I can't stop watching it!

Also! I was reading this thread about bounty reps www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/3304473-Are-Bounty-reps-on-maternity-wards-still-a-thing?pg=3

Has anyone had experience of this?! I had no idea it was a thing, it sounds awful

I didn’t see a bounty rep when in hospital for my first but did see one last week. She was collecting contact details and handing over a pack of slightly rubbish samples to the other mums on the ward. I politely refused as I don’t need any trial size bath foam or leaflets about photo shoots, and you can get the child benefit form from the registry office if you need it.

You can also download the form from the Gov website. That's what I did last time