The March-ers 2019 - #8 3rd Trimester

[Angelmiracle]

Thread 8!

Things are ramping up now mamas.

Get your hospital bags at the ready
👣👣👣🍼❤🤰🏻🤰🏽🤰🏼🤰🏿

Thread 7 link:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/3414226-The-March-ers-2019-7?pg=1&order=

Thanks @MistakenHoliday I'll keep that in mind! The heartburn only tends to put in an appearance when I've eaten too much or too late. The Gaviscon usually sorts it. I've been told it magically goes away pretty much as soon as little one arrives...I do hope so!

Also tried using the kicks count app. I'm finding it more hassle than it's worth! It tells you to not note every kick, just the 'sessions'. A session is obviously different for all of us, it could be a couple of hours, a half day, a morning/afternoon/nighttime. I think this app is going to make me question my own judgment of when I should be noting my baby as moving! I think I'll rely on my own judgment for my own sanity. What does everyone else think of the app if they are using it?

I felt the same @ballanj - it doesn't really give you any good guide on when the kicks are over the day either from what I could see.
I've given up to be fair, it just made me worry more about missing recording but then didn't actually ever warn me there had been fewer kicks that day and I might need checking out.... Seems a bit backwards to have something that is supposed to help but you could just do on notepad!

@SquirtlesMumAgain glad I'm not the only one not onboard with the app. Don't get me wrong can completely understand the whole campaign and to bring to people's attention the importance of baby's movements, but I do think your own judgment and gut feeling is the best thing to go on.

Ah that's not to bad then @ballanj ! Last time mine magically disappeared the second DD was born. It was pure magic

Anyone else experiencing nausea/vomiting coming back in the third trimester?? I did suffer with hyperemesis which I was on medication for but the last few days it's just amped up. I've had to call in sick to work today as I just feel rotten.

Apparently there's another hormone surge around the 32 week mark that can bring the sickness back? Hoping this doesn't last as throwing up with this belly on me IS NOT FUN!

@Harley8888 oh god, thought it was just me! I didn't have morning sickness at the start but the last few weeks (I'll be 33 weeks tomorrow) I'm literally heaving by the time I've walked from my car to the office (about 4 minute walk). I haven't actually been sick but when it's happening I feel like if I coughed it wouldn't end well.....

@whatalearningcurve it's just awful isn't it! I was in Matalan yesterday looking at baby bits and was trying so hard not to dry heave... came home and just had my head down the toilet the rest of the evening.

I really hope this doesn't last. I'm just so fed up of this pregnancy now and can't wait for baby to be here. I feel bad for calling in sick to work as I've had quite a lot sick days during this pregnancy due to hypermesis in the 1st and 2nd trimester. I've been working from home 90% of the time as well.. Just feel rotten today and now guilty about missing work... they've been quite supportive but you never know what they're really thinking.. I just feel like I'm so bad at being pregnant and people probably think I'm 'weak' or 'cant handle it'...

Ughhh I think I'm just going to stay in bed and mope today

@harley8888 mine never went away (eased but still am being sick most days). Am 32 week on Wed so I'll look "forward" to it getting worse. Still have some antisickness meds left so will keep them handy!

@squirtlesmumagain I've been on ondasetron everyday since I was 16 weeks and the sickness definitely eased (was a complete lifesaver) but for some reason it's just not doing the trick now. Fingers crossed it doesn't get worse for you this week keep the meds at the ready!

Hi everyone! I've totally lost track of this thread with the facebook group :( , but wanted to check in and it's good to read how everyone is doing.

Can't believe how close we are to the date now - less than 6 weeks from due date for me. We had a bit of a worrying weekend, as I've been super itchy, so my midwife and triage sent me off for bloods to rule out cholestasis. Not heard anything back yet, but they said if I hadn't heard anything by end of today (more likely by morning) the bloods were probably fine, so it should hopefully be good news.

Also struggling a bit with concerns about whether I'll be a good enough mum, after a very difficult Christmas with my own. Trying to take it one day at a time and not get too attached to those thoughts, as at the end of the day you'll only know when you get there. Thankfully my GP is being very supportive.

@wordsmithereens the worrying about being a good enough mum is common. I still don't think I am some days, but you get to the point where you realise you can only do the very best you can do and learn from your mistakes.
Glad you are getting some support, and don't be afraid to acknowledge those feelings and learn from them.
One thing I would say is there will be a lot of "advice" early on, from lots of different sources - know they aren't all right, even sometimes the medical professionals(!) and ensure you do your research and make choices you are comfortable with.

@wordsmithereens honestly I’m still winging it most days and DD is nearly 4 it’s definitely the hardest but most rewarding thing you will ever do and worrying is completely normal. Some days are harder than others but you get through it you will be just fine

I’m in nesting mode I’m working from home but washed the living room curtains and just scrubbed the kitchen floor on my hands and knees whilst my lunch cooked

@SquirtlesMumAgain Thanks. Rationally I know it is, but it does help to hear it from someone else and have it normalised. (Especially in the context of a mother who was never able to own those feelings herself and instead projected them onto us in a 'I could never please you as kids because you were too demanding and sensitive' - which is very much an experience I don't want to pass on to my own!)

You're spot on about the contradictory advice - always more than one way to skin a cat.

@Harley8888 Sorry you're struggling so - I don't think there's such a thing as being 'good' at being pregnant, because symptoms are so individual but I do hear what you're saying. When you see some people (who appear to be) sailing through it, it's hard not to compare. Undoubtedly you're doing the best that you can, though, and you just have different battles to them. xxx

Thanks @wineandchoccy :) Nesting sounds very productive!

So today I went for a growth scan, I am 29+1 at the scan they found baby only had 1.8cm of fluid surrounding her. I have been told this is very low and the consultant is very concerned and thinks my waters have gone at some point. How this happened without me realising I do not know. I have noticed I have been a bit damp but by the time you get to baby 5 your pelvic floor isn't what it was so just assumed it was that.

Anyway I have to go for another scan this Thursday and see what's happening, the only thing the consultant said was best case scenario is they can hold off labour till 36 weeks but could easily be before that. He never said wether I will need to be admitted before this or what exactly would happen. I'm feeling pretty scared and a little numb right now, I am a single mum and have 4 other children I have no idea what's going to happen. Someone please reassure me everything will be OK

@Exhaustedmummy1811 oh lord! Everything will be fine. They've caught the issue now and can monitor it. That's what you need to focus on. You've done this 4 times. Your body knows what's happening and how to take care of the little one inside. Apart from the shock of it all, do you feel prepared at all to be admitted if needs be? (I know everyone's different but the way I deal with stress is going into organisational hyper mode so not sure if making a plan would also help you?)

@whatalearningcurve thank you for replying. Obviously I want to do what ever is best for baby but it concerns me that if I am admitted to hospital and they try to wait for 36 weeks before delivery that could potentially be 8 weeks in hospital and away from my children, I also don't have anyone that could take that much time off work to care for them and ive never been away from them before. I am pretty much ready for baby's arrival but I'm also worried about the effects this is having on her she still has so much growing to do

@Exhaustedmummy1811 if I were you, I'd start writing a list of questions to ask the hospital on Thursday. I'm rubbish at asking things because I forget as soon as I open my mouth but just write down every concern you have, no matter how big or small it is because if you have answers then a plan can be made. It might not be the plan you envisioned in your head, but it's a plan of action and that's what matters. If they do induce / c-section then try and remember they're doing it because that is what's best for baby

@Exhaustedmummy1811 What a shock that must have been. It's good they've worked out what the issue may be so they can address it, but of course a huge concern if you're not sure how long you may have to be away from your other kids. I would say first things first - try and get some clarity on how likely hospitalisation is before delivery at 36 weeks. Is there a named midwife you can speak to or any way of getting a message through to the consultant? Are there any follow-up appointments planned where you could raise these concerns?

Consultant has asked me not to tell my midwife till after Thursday. He said he wants to see what happens Thursday then rescan 2 weeks later but that's all I've really been told. My biggest worry at the moment is she is breech and with no fluid they can't turn her and she is unlikely to turn on her own so I will end up having a section if that's the case. I really just feel like crying right now

It's ok to have a cry if you need to, it's a lot to process and that's bound to make Thursday feel far away. There will be a way through it either way though, section or not, even if it's not easy to see right now. I would definitely try and come up with a list of questions to take with you on Thursday, so you can dump some of those worries on paper instead of having them just floating round your head. And is there anyone in RL you could chat to about what's going on? Or, alternatively, speak to a helpline who can offer emotional support/just an ear to talk it through? (Like www.family-action.org.uk/what-we-do/children-families/familyline/ or Samaritans, or Tommy's pregnancy information 0800 0147 800 who may have more info on the kind of situation you're in) Sometimes just getting it off your chest first can be a good start. You don't have to solve it all in one go - one step at a time.

@Exhaustedmummy1811

On it’s own, premature ruptured membranes is not a reason to admit you to hospital, so if everything else is fine, try not to worry about that too much.

Other than the scan, did the Drs do anything else to conform of deny SROM? Ie, a speculum or a swab test? At our trust we have a swap test that confirms if your waters have gone. I ask this because the course of treatment now and in labour/immediately after labour is different if it’s just low amniotic fluid levels, or if it’s just to preterm rupture of membranes.

Ask about if they feel antibiotics are indicated now (possibly they won’t as waters may have been gone a while) and antibiotics in labour- and how this will impact on your care and your length of stay after baby is born.

Regarding being breech, 20% of baby’s are breech at 28/40, only 4% at term. Whilst this statistic may not wholly be applicable for your situation as, as you say, there is less room for baby to move, try not to fret too much at this point, there is still time for baby to move.

Also, we’re all your other baby’s non-complicated vaginal births? If so, this puts you in good stead to have a positive vaginal birth. Do not be press ganged into a caesarean, it is not necessarily indicated and is definitely worth a conversation with the consultant about a vaginal breech. Many hospitals routinely offer a caesarean, because that’s the ‘done thing’. Dependent on the situation, or is not necessarily the best decision for you.

Excuse all the typos. I can’t type long text on my phone 🙈