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...

Glad you got some movement, Kentishgal!

blueeyedviking that's so irritating, I'm quietly outraged on your behalf. Nothing wrong with 10kg. Same for you Kentishgal. Those MWs are inappropriate, tactless and unprofessional. Imagine if we said stuff like that to our clients/stakeholders!? Ugh. I've had a few things like this too lately and I've reluctantly asked DH to come to my next appt on Friday. I do a serious job and I'm generally confident and together, at least outwardly, but the MWs sometimes have a special talent for making me feel anxious and small. I try and think of it as clumsiness but the more sleep deprived I get, and the higher the stakes (in the sense that we are now talking about birth, anaesthetic etc), the more I feel like
I need some back up. Shouldn't be like that. 🙄 The one that couldn't find the heartbeat but thought it was "probably ok" was the final straw.

On a happier note, whoever recommended The Positive Birth Book, thank you! I won't have bought it because of my ELCS, but it's got loads on that too. I think probably Trying2bemum. 💜

Also, 😂😂😂 @ "short-fingered midwives of Kent". That's going to stay with me for a while!

stargazydrifter I've read lots of good reviews of that book - so you think it's worth it even for an elcs? I've been listening to "Maggie Howell's preparing for a csection" hypnobirthing mp3 but I'm struggling to relax with it lately so not sure how much is going in! I heard good things about it though so thought I'd give it a go!

@Kentishgal glad you got some movement!

Sorry to hear some are still having trouble with MW. I have nothing to compare to given it's my first, but it's such a mixed bag. I feel I've lucked out with seeing the community midwife and saw the same one 3 appts in a row and they've all been great. However, in my NCT group it's been a completely different story for most even though we're all under the same NHS trust.

Speaking of, my MW suggested using the Positive Birth Movement icons for a birth plan/preferences. You can download them for free and it looks like quite a good way to get your preferences across in a concise way.

@blueeyedviking I would've told her to piss off! 10kg is well within the normal weight gain and I don't exercise when I'm not pregnant never mind when I am 😂

@Kentishgal my little lady is the same. I either have to be sitting or lying down to get any movement, always been the same. And I honestly think she gets worn out if I'm busy so she moves less 😂 I've been super busy sorting the house, moving furniture, cleaning etc and I went for a really long walk the other day and she's been very quiet until today which has been my first chilled day of my week off so far.

I'm honestly shocked by MWs. When I had my miscarriage last year, I was appalled by most of the MWs that I dealt with. I would've thought that being in that profession, you'd be a kind and considerate person but evidently that's not the case!
I've been really lucky this time round and my regular midwife is really lovely then all those I've dealt with at the hospital have been amazing. I can't rate my hospital highly enouhh,. They actually just got rated outstanding (today I think) for the second year in a row and it doesn't surprise me at all.

Kentishgal yes I think it's worth it. I have that one and Pregnancy Week By Week, they go well together. The Positive Birth Book is a bit more informal and upbeat, and somehow more reassuring for it, whereas the other one is a bit more impartial and all-encompassing. I was intending to just whizz through any ELCS add-ons in The Positive Birth Book and then give it away to someone in my NCT class, but there's actually a fair amount relevant to ELCS so I'm going to hold on to it and work through it properly. E.g.:

• why not having a birth plan is not a good plan;
• draft ELCS birth plan;
• stuff about the microbiome;
• chapter on positive c-birth;
• chapter on 'the birth of a mother' (i.e. after the baby is here).

There is also a hospital bag list. Which I am woefully behind on!

@blueeyedviking god knows what that midwife would say to me, I've gained 20kg! But I can still take my rings off ok. I think all my weight has gone to my arse and thighs.

Just 5 more days left in work for me after today! Off tomorrow and got a midwife appointment. I've got 5 weeks before my due date, I'm going to start making a list of things I want to do in my time off so that it goes quickly. Some are boring things around the house like clearing out the fridge haha. Anyone got any other ideas?

Stargazy glad you found the book helpful - I'm going for a second read. Also yet to think about hospital bag - what type of bag are others using? I'm thinking a small suitcase for both my stuff and baby's stuff..

I've got 8 weeks to go and 5 weeks left at work - still got so much to do. Need to decorate spare room but boiler has broken so we need to replace that first. Timing!!

Thedust to do list for mat leave is a great idea. I think I'll wash baby clothes, work my way through anything else we need to buy and batch cook. I read somewhere it's a good idea to book a food delivery for after the birth so you don't have to go to the supermarket and have a stocked fridge / other essentials like plenty of loo roll etc.

Saw the midwife Tuesday who referred me to GP for breathlessness and dizziness. Saw GP yesterday who sent me to triage for an ECG! It was all fine, think they're just being over cautious. They scanned baby briefly - it was lovely seeing them again 💕

Is anyone else regularly light headed and breathless? I think it's probably just bump and low iron.

We had to get a new boiler too @Trying2bemum great time to be spending a couple of grand!
I've also had some dizziness/breathlessness which my midwife put down to anaemia. Been taking spatone regularly now since I was 28 weeks and it's definitely helped.

Suddenly become so tired this afternoon- struggling to concentrate in work, and baby is sitting uncomfortably so getting up for little walks to try and help. Also had slight period pains earlier but stopped now so assuming it's just baby's position.

Started perineal massage last night and didn't love it! (Does anyone?), but will persevere as would rather stick with it and hopefully reduce risks of tearing.

I have 9 days left in work now can't wait to be done and just chill (by chill I mean sort out nursery, batch cook, tidy house) but will be nice to potter about. I'm jealous of those who have already finished or who are finishing before me!

@blueeyedviking I've put on 11kg but haven't been weighed since my booking in. That was so rude of the midwife though - it's not an excessive amount of weight gain at all, and some women will naturally put on more than others!

Feel like my bump hasn't grown the past few weeks, but will find out at midwife appointment next week!

Thanks @Capybaras I need to get hold of some spatone! not tried perinneal massage but like you said - am willing to try if it helps. What do you use, some kind of oil?!

I bought some perineal massage oil in boots as it was on offer. Can't remember the brand but they had a couple there

I remember doing that - I felt really odd doing it - I'm sure I used olive oil (would that be right?!) on the basis of an nct recommendation. Yes to breathless - although thought it might be this virus? I'm sat next to a girl in work who is 2 weeks behind me - she has a very neat bump and clearly not a mess like me! The first thing she said when she saw me today was "wow you're big". 😏

I think that midwife was just one of the condescending ones. She also explained me of the importance of monitoring movements the next two weeks before my next scan 🙄 As if that's news to me.

I was trying to find the perinal oil at boots today. But no luck. May just order online.

Are anyone experiencing really hard and full tummy? Getting a lot of Braxton hicks, some of it painful!

Checked - and the one I have is Weleda perineum massage oil. But I think I've read elsewhere that you can use olive oil, almond oil etc

I'm still only getting braxton hicks when out and about walking. Only once it's been painful but that was after a really long day (and I was dehydrated).

Do we count as heavily pregnant yet as I feel it

capybaras I'm saying yes! I feel like a great big elephant! And I've just sat myself in one of those disabled seats next to the toilet on the train - the smell is making me want to vomit - some cheeky cow pushed in front of me to take the last priority seat 😏 bloody trains - not sure how much longer I can face the commute - how are you all coping? I found the walk to and from the train station quite challenging - I'm so unfit!

One of the ladies in my NCT group said that she just sat on the floor of the train on her last commute from work and no-one batted an eyelid!

And yes I'm going with heavily pregnant too! It's my last day tomorrow - Southwest trains are giving me the perfect send off by cancelling and delaying trains left right and centre...!

I still have 7 weeks left at work when I go back on Monday 😩 I don't think I'll be making any to do lists for my mat leave since it starts 5 days before my due date haha.

I have the upmost respect for all the public transport users in the group, the heat of the tube and train today was not a fun experience, glad I don't have to do it on a regular basis.

For the oil massage I use this one... myexpertmidwife.com/products/peri-prep-your-bits

Definitely leaning towards the heavily pregnant state this week, starting to feel the exhaustion but the sickness and heartburn are keeping away the sleep (if any of you have a good way to reduce this, let me in on your secret).

Hope everyone is feeling ok, all your babies are doing regular movements and work/hospital are being kind to you, Friday tomorrow almost at the weekend and even closer to the day we get to meet our new little ones 😎

@BeckyButterfly - thank you! Might need to check out B&Q!

Can’t seem to find who was asking about encouraging baby to move out of awkward positions. I’ve had very limited success with using a torch. Someone suggested frozen peas, haven’t yet resorted!

Hello all, hope everyone is well.
Just thought I’d check in & let you know that my miniature peoples arrived earlier than anticipated last Friday at 34wks. My wee boy weighed 4lb6 & my wee girl weighed 3lb12. Both of them are doing fantastically well, they are in the Special Care unit but are out of incubators & in regular cots.
I was discharged on Tuesday & am now in that weird hospital-home bubble existence punctuated with regular expressing (I never knew my nipples could withstand such abuse!!). I’ve been told to expect them to be in until early July as they use that 40wk date as a goal for prem babies. Anything earlier is a major bonus.

Congratulations @toria73! What wonderful news, great to hear they are both doing well.

Annnnnd, I'm struggling to sleep. Between the toilet breaks, baby kicking, a slightly drunk DH and pain from physio I am wide awake. Tried to move into another room now to see if that helps, at least I dont have to listen to DHs snoring.

Massive congratulations @Toria73 - how exciting!! 3 babies in the group now! How are you feeling!?

@blueeyedviking I feel exactly the same With sleep and the husband, although I changed the spare room in to the nursery so have nowhere to go now!!!

Huge congrats @Toria73!

Ah congratulations Toria73! - I hope you are recovering well? Hopefully they'll be home soon. I actually thought of you earlier this week and wondered how you were getting on.