July 2019 (thread 9): shame me about my bump, and I'll shame you about your complete lack of manners

[RooKangaroo]

Honestly, I go to catch up on the thread after a few days and you guys have filled it up! Love this chatty group.

How is everyone this morning?

trukevoli sorry you had such a tough day. Growth measurements often seem way off as you hear so many stories of people having similar experiences! I'm consultant led for the same reason as you - my uterus ruptured and I haemorrhaged 3.5 ltrs last time so I'm having an ELCS - like you, I am anxious about it but it is the safest option - if you haemorrhaged last time then you need to avoid that happening again (not sure if haemorrhage was from a tear or rupture but if it was rupture then I think nhs guidelines say to avoid vaginal birth in future pregnancies). Like you I live in the middle of nowhere with a nearly 4 yr old - last time I just stayed at home for a couple of months - although I'm sure that'll be more difficult this time with another child to entertain - but at least it's summer and we can head into the garden...and try and engage the first child in looking after baby....maybe?!! Luckily I'm keeping her in nursery so won't be on my own with them both all the time! All this talk of weight gain I'm tempted to hit the scales again...I'm wondering if my weight gain might have slowed - I said that to my yoga teacher last week and she just laughed and said "do you really think so?!" 😂 I'd like to think it's baby, but deep down I know it's just biscuits.

Ps on the hot flushes point - I only really had it in the office the other day (house is v cold!) but I have been getting night sweats - last time I had that after I gave birth when I got rid of all my fluid retention...so I'm wondering if that's a good sign that I'm not retaining as much fluid? Or is that wishful thinking?

Hot and dizzy here too. I don't think I get hot flushes, as in sudden severe hot and sweaty spells, but I do generally feel hot and like there isn't enough air anywhere. Tights and over-bump trousers also too hot (and I'm with you ladies on jeans cutting in!) and my face gets shinier more quickly. Frequent dizzy and weak spells too, seemingly for no reason as I'm careful to eat/drink etc. Given the weather will only get hotter, all this has the potential to be a real pain.

@kentishgal, my heamorrage was only 1070ml and I dont know why I did. I didn't even realise I had. I thought it was all normal until I was told it wasnt. I was so relaxed as the midwives never let on anything was wrong. Amazing really! I would much rather have a vaginal birth as I didn't mind my last experience. The tear was a whole different ball game as I had additional tears in my labias not noticed until I had a shower hours later. And then no dr or midwife had seen anything like it as the wound had already healed and was much like a hole had been stretched it was very odd.

My 4 year old will be at home so really need to amuse him as much as possible.

Weight gain, last time was dreadful between pregnancy and breastfeeding ended up being 3 stone. So far this one I have just got to my pre pregnancy weight due to decrease in appetite and healthier eating, also 4 year old has finally started sleeping so less binging on crap.

I’m amazed at how little you guys have put on 😳 at 30 weeks I’d put on 1st 13lbs but when I weighed again this morning (I felt small hence weighing again, I only ever do it once a week on the week) I’d lost 3lbs 🤔 see how I measure next Tuesday at the midwife I guess!
Night sweats here too!

No hot flushes here, but agree with those who feel resurrected, particularly in clothing around the bump. I can't stand anything tight there.

@Jxtina86 - definitely just get a backpack you like. Changing bags are just normal bags with lots of pockets and a free changing mat, usually. Much cheaper to buy a normal bag and make sure it's a style you like.

@HchyScott do you get weighed at your MW appointments? I've only been weighed at my 12 week scan, I told her my weight at booking in as I'd weighed that morning, and just been weighing myself each eeek to keep track!

@Jxtina86 I'm not bothering with a changing bag - have a pram organiser and bought a travel changing mat. And will continue to use a standard handbag unless I need more storage space!

@Capybaras no I’m exactly the same as you, told her my weight at booking in, weighed at 12 week scan and keep track myself weekly. The only thing she monitors is fundal height which she’s measured twice, 25 weeks and 28 x

@RooKangaroo @Capybaras thanks both! Think I'll go with the Skip Hop thing and a regular backpack then 😊 Any recommendations on pram organisers? Do you have to check if they fit your specific pram or is it one size fits all?

I'm with you guys on the night sweats 😩 I used to always shower on a night before bed because I'm lazy and hate getting up earlier than I need to but now I'm having to shower in the mornings!

I haven't been weighed since my booking appointment at 9 weeks but the consultant said at my appointment today that the MW will do my BMI at my appointment next week so I assume I'll be weighed then. She measured my fundal height today but didn't tell me anything about it (she's a bit of a useless consultant) She marked it on the growth chart and I think it's the 95th percentile so I'm assuming that's big..! I'm sure my MW will explain next week as she is fab. I hate when they just write in your notes but don't tell you anything.
She always wrote in my notes GTT - no. I assume this means I don't have diabetes but she didn't actually tell me that...! It maybe it means she didn't have the results. Who knows?!

28 weeks tomorrow! Still 11 weeks left at work 😩

@capybaras glad the course was good! I listened to the hypnobirthing relaxation mp3 last night by Hollie de cruz, and it sent me to sleep so I think that’s a good thing?! Need to start practising every day now. I’m not fearful of birth at all...so far!

@Yukka I have the same mp3 and I always have a good night's sleep when I listen to it. I've got a separate relaxation mp3 that I've been given ahead of our course later in May and I listened to it for the first time the other week and felt so chilled out afterwards - it was awesome!

DianaBlythe Thankyou, I was sort of thinking of what they did for you, so glad to hear it worked out, I shall order two sizes bigger and long (despite being short).
good luck with all your babies and I'll leave you be now

Has anyone been waxed, bikini line in particular, recently? If so, does it hurt more the more pregnant you are?
Normally I maintain myself but my last attempt was an utter disaster; I was working on feel rather than what I could see 😂. I’ve got an appointment for Friday as it totally needs done (tbh it’s a disgrace down there) as I’ll be 31wks tomorrow so my twins may come at any time in next 6wks. I’m not willing for 2 x midwives, 2 x crash teams plus random doctors to view me in my current state!

Good luck Septemberdays. toria73 I've been contemplating this - I can't see anything past my belly - I'm not worried about the hospt seeing it all but just with going swimming arc - is it safe when pregnant (or is that a silly question?!). Got some treatments booked tomorrow afternoon at a spa and was tempted to tag it on!

I’ve put on about 8kg or 1st3. Midwife says they expect about 10kg weight gain overall and I’ve still got 9 weeks to go. Midwife wasn’t worried. BMI was 22 at 12 week scan and they haven’t weighed me since.

I don’t seem to have a big face or arms and legs particularly but my back feels much bigger for bras etc and my bump seems massive but then I’ve got long arms and legs and very little torso. Guess we’ll see how big I am underneath once it comes out!

@Toria73 I had a go at some maintenance last night - I normally just trim and tidy but couldn’t see a thing. I didn’t try any fancy gymnastics with mirrors or anything... maybe will do that. Have thought about booking in for it but I think they’d need it trimmed before they could do anything with it anyway... don’t know if they’d do that too???

Seeing more talk of weight I caved and went and weighed myself - I've gained 2st 10lbs - is that really bad? Should I be worried? Last time my overall gain was 3 and a half - I'm just worried it'll be more than that this time if I carry on lime this (I'm 29 weeks)? Kind of regretting weighing now.

So I'm starting to think about the hospital bag now..

Pads.. how many and what ones? I've no idea where to start to be honest.

I managed to keep it maintained well last time myself, even shaved the morning of my due date. (She came 5 hours later.)

I had to resort to a mirror in the end..very undignified. I was a teenager then though and very conscious of getting every hair. This time around I’m being very lax I’ll have to get the mirror back out soon I think.

@fortheloveofdoughnuts I think I took a pack with me from boots last time and I had plenty and 1 over night stay. I will probably do the same again. 2 things I recommend to everyone are a tens machine (got me to 7cm last time on it's own and I used it through the whole of the birth) and a straw with lucozade (back when it tasted nice) the straw made drinking so much easier and my partner was able to hold it for me. Will shortly be investing in some metal straws to take with me and a new tens machine.

fortheloveofdoughnuts I think I'd go with one pack - I stayed in for 7 days last time but (sorry this is tmi) they had me on one of those pad things (like a puppy pad? 😂) most of the time so it was only when I finally put knickers on that I used my own pads. Ooh I second the tens machine - and hit the boost button! I think mine cost the same to buy as renting one from mothercare. Googling how to reduce weight gain in pregnancy - it says not to diet but guess I need to lay off the biscuits / cheese / chocolate just a tad.

@Toria73 I was wondering the same thing too re waxing! I haven't had it done in years and don't know if now is the right time to try it again...I did a bit of a hack job blindly shaving a few weeks ago, but bless him my DH has said he'll shave me down there as the time gets closer! Don't need everything off just a tidy up - I swear I've got so much more hair now!

When should you start prepping hospital bag?

I think I'm starting to get melasma too! Noticed some pigmentation by my eyes yesterday - has anyone else got this? I always wear sun cream under my make up so not really sure what else I can do (apart from avoid the sun as much as possible!). Luckily it's covetable with make-up but don't want it getting worse!