July 2019 (thread 10) - the final furlong...maybe

[Kentishgal]

Thought we had better start a new thread - wonder if we'll see some (more) babies arriving on this thread...

Morning ladies hope you all had a good weekend! Has anyone noticed their bump starting to drop? I've been taking a photo of bump every week and noticed compared to last week that bump is less pointy-out and more pointing down...! Might just be position of baby but it was a bit eek, maybe this is nearing the final stretch...!

I've been walking around with sharp pains down below in between legs at some points today. Not sure if baby has turned from oblique to head down and that's why? Has anyone else experienced this yet or could it mean baby is engaged slightly? I spent yesterday doing forward leaning inversions to try turn baby from oblique/transverse X

@mrsof2018 welcome to the world of ‘lightning crotch’! If it’s just started it could be cos baby has moved but it’s not uncommon anyway as you get closer. It is usually sharp ligament pain as everything gets a bit tighter in there. Head down would certainly add more pressure.

@Jxtina86 I actually thought that about mine too the other day, there’s deff s log more going on since baby moved out of breech 2 weeks ago.

I’ve had a return of the nausea too, no sickness though. And drinking gallons of water at night...

@mrsof20118 Yep I read that those pains mean that the baby is starting to engage. I started having them over a week ago and a few days later got told I'm 3/5 (wasnt engaged at all pre pains)

@yukka my thirst is non stop! And I also get periods of nausea now so guess it's all third trimester fun.

Today I went to the cinema by myself. Was actually really nice and so good to get out of the house! Haven't done anything for me in ages. Going to book a pregnancy massage for this week too I think. I've hit the 37 week mark now so you never know what might happen so might as well enjoy it.

Evening ladies, hope you’re all okay, we are all getting very close now, it’s exciting!

However I Went in for monitoring at lunch time today after baby girl hadn’t really moved, got there and she started moving of course!! But her heart rate was way up at 200 again 😞 after an hour it did go down to an average of 178 so they sent me home for lunch and I went in for more monitoring after. Basel heart rate then went down to 158 so much better. So worries that everytime she’s active which is nearly all the time, her poor heart is going like the clappers 😞.
Doctor was happy to let me go as these periods of high heart rate aren’t so concerning as they come back down. Second episode of this though... just gotta trust those doctors!
Had 18 BH while I was on the first trace and 8 on the second, they couldn’t believe I don’t always know I’m having them as they showed as strong. Hope it means she will be here sooner rather than later!

Woke up this morning to a flurry of texts from our NCT group - one of the girls due after me has gone into labour! She got admitted to hospital last night and we're all just waiting to hear the news now...! Definitely given us all the kick up the arse to finalise all the bits and pieces - eeek!

Braxton Hicks; what do they feel like? I think I've started getting them just in the past two days but they seem to be making me vomit 😩 it's like the tightening is stopping my digestive system from working properly. I haven't eaten much at all since Friday and can't really keep anything down. I saw my MW this morning and she wants concerned so that's good but it is worrying me that I could be like this for the next 5 weeks! I haven't been to work yesterday or today because I was worried I had a bug or something.

Wasn't** she wasn't concerned.

@BeckyButterfly I don't think I've experienced BH at all so far, but your description sounds similar to others who have had them. Although, no-one has mentioned vomiting, but if you feel it's affecting your digestion then I would imagine it would be an understandable (although not pleasant!) side effect! Really hope it passes for you sooner rather than later!!

Thanks @Jxtina86 🙂 I think I'm just quite a sickly person! Everything seems to cause me to vomit 😂 I'm just feeling sorry for myself really! And have started to panic that I'm never going to be able to endure labour if I am complaining about BH haha.

Also, what you were saying about someone from your NCT group giving birth does make it rather real! Not long till it'll be a slurry of birth announcements on this group 😬

Hope you're all having a good week. beckybutterfly mine are just tightenings which are sometimes painful. That sounds rotten for you. Gosh everyone seems so far ahead of me - who is due first (aside from those who have already had babies!)? twinkleday I thought I recalled you being due early? Got to see my horrible midwife tomorrow- not seen her for 8 weeks - it's always a joy 😬 I rang her last week as she'd booked me in for an appointment on Friday and I always see her on a Wednesday and she said "who are you, I don't know you - are you even one of mine?" Erm yes...unfortunately! Ah no more miserable midwife soon!!

@BeckyButterfly mine are tightenings across my whole stomach and my stomach goes rock hard and They make me suddenly feel desperate for a wee! They’re uncomfortable but not painful as such.

@Kentishgal she sounds delightful! I don’t like my midwife either so I feel your pain. She’s so cold, abrupt and rude...not the characteristics you’d want from a midwife!!

It’s my day off today, I’ve cleaned all the house and I’m now spending the rest of the day doing NVQ work. My work want it finished before my maternity leave 🙁 feel so bogged down with it!

I think I’ve decided I’m going to bring my maternity leave forward by 5 days. I don’t think finishing work 3 days before caesarean is ideal as id like some ‘me time’ before baby arrives! X

giraffe888 - she sounds like mine - they aren't characteristics you expect from a midwife either - v odd! Definitely take some more time for you if you can!! I start my mat leave two days before my elcs so I have booked two weeks holiday beforehand to try and get some chores done and to spend a bit of time relaxing!

Hi!

Is it ok to join you? I didn't at first as I expected to miscarry (had 3 consecutive mcs before this pg) then got to 3 months and had a bleed so again, didn't post. By the time I felt confident it was a sticky one, the threads were established and I felt a bit awkward.

But it's the home stretch now, I'm 37+5, the baby is by all accounts a girl and if I don't join in then when the postnatal threads start I'll be left behind!

I finished work last Friday, so I'm on annual leave at the moment and my mat leave starts properly at the end of the month. Everything is ready equipment wise but I still need a couple of nursing bras and to sort out the house. I'm chipping away at it all but baby has dropped this week and I'm getting a lot of lower back pain so just trying to do bits and pieces as I can.

Sorry to have left it so late to get to know you all, I'm going to go back and read the full thread now to see where everyone is up to!

@Kentishgal when’s your elcs? My mat leave isn’t starting until baby arrives but I’ve holiday booked. I’ve plenty left so I’m going to email my area manager this afternoon about finishing earlier. Just feel like I’ve got so much to do that I could do with working until the end but I know it’s not feasible!

Welcome @CrackersDontMatter don’t worry about joining late! Good luck if you’re going to read the full thread...it will take a while 😂 I’m glad your pregnancy has gone successfully and how exciting you’ve not long to go! I’m having a boy boy planned caesarean on 19th July x

I get a lot of BH but they’re never painful, (unless they happen when I’m walking) stomach just goes rock hard. They’re getting more frequent now but I’ve been having them for ages.

I’m only 33+ 4 but I’m pretty sure the baby has engaged. I have my midwife appointment tomorrow so we’ll see! Hope he stays put a good while longer I have so much left to do on the house.

Hi @CrackersDontMatter! I’m trying to finish off bits but I’m getting out of breath quite quickly, as he’s a big baby and I can’t seem to find any energy. Still lots to do though and I should do it before I get any bigger. Dp is doing all the big heavy bits when he can but he works long hours so not finished yet.

Oh and congratulations on your girl @CrackersDontMatter!! I’m quite a way behind everyone else, due a little boy 2nd August and also have a 6 year old daughter.

@Giraffe888 and @BeckyButterfly hearing you describe your BH now I wonder if I’ve been having them. Not really sure though, certainly not painful if so, baby turned about ten days ago and I’ve had all sorted of weird stuff since then!

@CrackersDontMatter welcome to the team! I’m a previous mc’er too so completely get your feelings. Home stretch now, I’m 34.2.

I’m going to write up the list of dates this afternoon and drop it in a single post so we can keep track in these last few weeks.

Gotta love not working :) sorry for those who still are!!

Welcome Crackers! I too and 3 losses in quick succession before this one and have only really just allowed myself to get properly excited about the new baby. Not long now!

Kentishgal I do remember the bad MW. Makes me so cross. We don't have an allocated one where I am and they are very mixed as a team. I've learnt to book my appts for days when there are more decent ones on, works sometimes. I hate to admit it, but it also works to bring DH. I find that both helpful and really annoying since they should behave well regardless. I'm not a child!

Would totally endorse taking more leave before due dates. I've had the last 2 weeks off as a/l, it's been busy with sorting/cleaning/buying post-ELCS stuff and getting my head around how to do stuff in the first couple of weeks. I'm slower now (37+2) so would recommend doing any active or thinking chores first and reading/relaxing after. I did a bit too much reading and resting at the start and now moving around is quite hard!

(Tmi) Started leaking colostrum yesterday. Definitely real!

Welcome @CrackersDontMatter - and yes please don't worry about joining late! Im also on maternity leave (got triggered early due to sick leave) so know the feeling of wanting everything ready but slowing down due to pain. I'm also trying to do things for me before the baby arrives which is really nice.

I'm due 10th July, but all of my NCT group had due dates in June. 1 of them was 3 weeks early @Jxtina86 so I know the feeling! Makes it all really real.

@BeckyButterfly Re BH, my stomach also goes really tight for a few seconds and sometimes its painful. They come out of nowhere sometimes

Welcome crackersdontmatter! stargazydrifter I'm taking my husband tomorrow! Last time, I was sat outside and the midwives didn't realise I had arrived and they had inadvertently left the door open - they were discussing one of their clients (who had changed her mind about termination) and I could hear then effing and jeffing and calling her names - shocking. So I left it a while and then coughed really loudly at which point one of them sheepishly put their head round the door. Delightful!

@Jxtina86 I haven't noticed my bump drop yet, although baby is 3/5 engaged. I have noticed I was waddling round aldi earlier doing my big shop  and the braxton hicks kicked in at the same time as it was a big shop for batch cooking. My BH are just slightly uncomfortable tightenings @BeckyButterfly

Welcome @CrackersDontMatter sorry about your previous losses, hope this pregnancy hasn't been too stressful for you.

37 weeks today, due 9th July. People keep on asking when I think I'll go - am I a psychic?! No idea! I'm on day 3 of annual leave and the house is still a tip but I've started making some progress so all good!

Thanks for all the BH responses 🙂 I think that must be what it is. Definitely feels like uncomfortable tightening and seems to be worse when I'm lying in bed. I think the sickness is just something that I'm prone to. I had bad hyperemesis in my first 15 weeks then have had it on and off throughout my pregnancy so it's probably just that rearing it's ugly head.
I did have a very busy week and weekend so perhaps I over did it a bit. Hopefully yesterday and today's relaxing will sort me out.

Sorry to hear about rude midwives. I experienced a few with my miscarriage last year but luckily have only dealt with very nice ones this time round. My regular MW is really nice and all the ones at the hospital have been great. I don't understand MWs being rude, you always assume they would be caring and kind considering their career choice!

Hi @CrackersDontMatter! Never too late for a new face. I hope you are well 🙂

Kentishgal that's shocking, deeply unprofessional and probably discriminatory. Also how are you meant to have any trust and confidence in these people! Of course they do know their stuff, and you'll be in good hands, but good bedside manner for something like maternity is imoortant. I would be tempted to raise it with someone senior. I did have a bit of a discrete moan to the main MW about my concerns this side, yet to see if it makes any difference, but hoping it might. It's hard though, you'd need to do it on a resilient/good day.

Next week is my last week before birth. Any tips for "me time"? Lie ins, maybe a swim? Food is still out, hyperemesis isn't one to give up lightly!

@Capybaras oh and I'm with you on people asking when I think I'm going to have her. I don't understand that question. How would we possible know that information?! I wish we did. It would make life a lot easier 😂