Due November 2019 thread 5

[PyjamasForever]

Couldn't see that anyone had started another thread after we filled up the last one, so hopefully I haven't made a double...

Found out yesterday it’s a boy 💙💙💙 (all the old wives tales were correct)

I’m finishing work at 37+4 with annual leave + one week of mat leave before due date. I found out that the government’s definition of a UK mat leave “week” runs from Sunday to Sunday, so as I’m due on a Saturday it makes sense to start my mat leave on the Monday before due date as otherwise my first mat leave week is only one day! Don’t know if others have worked out similar?

Planning for a nursery feels so far off for me, we’re about to start a massive house renovation project as OH is an architect and we’d just bought a wreck to do up when we fell pregnant. I’ve negotiated that at least the bathroom and one bedroom will be finished by my due date so even if the rest of the house is a building site baby and I can hide in bed. Eek!

@fabaga congratulations 💙💙💙

@fabaga we're planning to renovate a building on the farm into a 3 bed house starting September. The FIL thinks it can be ready to live in in 10 weeks...I'm not so confident I think it'll be next year before it's anywhere near livable!

What were the old wives tales that made you think it was a boy?

@Farmmum7 basically all I wanted to eat were salt and vinegar crisps (so healthy ) and I heard salty cravings mean boys and sweet for girls. Also my friend told me if you put weight on your bum it’s a boy and that’s definitely me

It’s comforting to know I might not be the only one having a baby in a building site! Fingers crossed your FIL is right!

Congratulations @fabaga! I find out next Friday, can't wait!

I've got a question on breast pumps - manual or electric??

I'd been planning to work up to about two weeks before due date but perhaps that is overly ambitious? I am tired and have back/pelvic pain and a bit of a waddle already, plus I work in central London which I already hate with a seething passion...

@motherofcats81 so w I'm expressing? I found that pumping doesn't work for me (manual or electric) some find it easy some don't no matter how much milk you seem to have going on in there! Electric tends to be better. Medela tends to be a good one but pricey

Some hospitals let you rent them to see how you get on

38 weeks could be doable I did it with DS1 but I was in far less pain than with this baby (awwwwwwful pgp) and less complications than with DS2. I currently plan to stay until 37 weeks but from 30+ weeks will asses how I feel on a weekly basis and go easy if needed

My anomaly scan is next Tuesday where I'll be just 21 weeks.

I can feel him wiggling around so much now which is quite reassuring.

Suffering so badly with a cold and cough that started on Friday. Went to the chemist yesterday to see if I could have anything like a cough syrup to soothe the cough and my throat and was told no ☹ I have been up half the night and feel terrible.

Work have veen asking me when I want to finish but my friend said I can wait until I have the matB form or whatever it is. Which is good because I have no idea. I'd finish now if I could and never go back 🤣

Thank you @Mintypea5! I sympathize with the PGP, it's horrible and I think mine is a relatively mild case! Just hoping it doesn't get worse...

@Mintypea5 and @Motherofcats81 also sending some PGP sympathy. I think I'll probably be given crutches at my next physio appointment. I do a job that involves a lot of time on my feet so I'm not really sure what to do. Am cutting down to 3 days a week from August but that might not be enough to make me feel better (especially since I'll still be chasing after the toddler on those days).

Hope you don't mind me jumping in to ongoing conversations but I've got my 20 week scan early this afternoon and need a handhold! I'll be 19+4 (I'm a later November due date). Feels such a long time since the last scan and although I do have regular daily flutterings and movements, you just never know.
We're team yellow so not finding out the sex (hoping the sonographer is accommodating).

@PyjamasForever  hope you feel better soon. PGP is awful.

@cakeordeath89 good luck for the scan! I always find it super nerve wracking because it's the big one. What time is it?

@Mintypea5 It's at 1.30 so DH is picking me up at 1. This morning is going so slowly! Trying to keep busy with work but it's pretty quiet here at the moment, which isn't helping. I'm sure everything will be fine and I'm trying to stay positive but there's always that thought at the back of your mind.

@cakeordeath89 I know what you mean. I find myself chatting too much when we get in the room from nerves then hold my breath and close my eyes when they do the heart and brain checks just because it makes me anxious

cakeordeath89 good luck, I find I get really nervous as soon as I lie down and practically end up holding my breath for the whole thing. It’s so lovely to see babies again though.

@Mintypea5 and @zarara Thanks for your support! It's really strange but I find the clock watching at work is hard and feel more nervous with the waiting but once I'm in the hospital I feel better and more relaxed. I suppose by then I'll know within an hour if everything is all ok.
There was no mention of anything alarming at 12 weeks so I'm holding onto that.

Good luck today @cakeordeath89 hopefully baby will behave and let them get all the meassurements

Hope the scan went well @Cakeordeath89 I was nervous too and breathed a sigh of relief every time the sonographer said something was fine.

Saw the midwife today so heard baby's heartbeat again, which was lovely. Then afterwards I went to the GP for my whooping cough vaccine. Feels like a productive day already! Can't believe my next midwife appointment isn't until the end of August. Feels like absolutely ages away, but I do have physio, consultant and vbac nurse appointments between now and then. Midwife suggested hydrotherapy for my PGP so I'm going to ask the physios about it next week.

Scan all done and all good news - no major issues, which is a huge relief. The sonographer was very efficient and perhaps even a little brusque but she was very thorough. She let us have a few extra photos as the baby wasn't quite in the right position.

Is it just me that never has a clue what they are looking at? She kept saying "oh there's the mouth" and "there you can see the hands" and "this is the heart valves" and I just see black and white shadows :( Wish I could interpret the scans better. I suppose it's not worth getting upset about when I'll get to look at them in real life in less than 5 months (!!!!) but it's hard at this stage when you want to be able to see every little detail.

@cakeordeath89 glad it went well! I can never see the things they point out at the scan really. I'm like ok you say that's some kidneys great!

@PyjamasForever awwwww yay for heartbeat! I don't get to hear mine until 25 week appointment .... would be 28 week but I get an extra one for high BMI. Although between now and end of month I have 5 various antenatal appointments! Seems a lot after nothing for ages

@PyjamasForever How many times have you had the opportunity to listen to heartbeart? I've still not heard ours yet so I'm hoping it might be an option when I go for my 25 week appointment.

Also, how was the vaccination? Wondering what is the best day of the week to book it with the impact on work or is it limited choice? I'm guessing it depends on the area we live.

@cakeordeath89 heartbeat varies trust to trust! Mine doesn't donit before 25 weeks anymore some do at 16. Seems like some people have had regular midwife appointments following 20 week scan. My area doesn't just scan and out!

I had the vaccine last pregnancy and my arm hurt a bit after but I had it on a day off anyone. I'd do it end of the day if you can.

Having it again this time but they do it after our 20 week scan now in my area. I missed my spot last week due to baby not cooperating but will have it next week after rescan

@Mintypea5 Thanks - at least I know I'm not the only one. I wish it was a bit clearer and uniform, in terms of how you book appointments. I left the 20 week scan without booking anything else because the sonographer said I had to book the 25 week through the GP but I'm not sure if I was supposed to book anything for further down the line.

I've been waiting for the 20 week scan for the vaccination, wanted to make sure everything was A-OK before having it. Thanks for the tip!

@cakeordeath89 my 25 week appointment was booked at my 16 week appointment. My notes have a flow chart at the front that tells you when your appointments should be

Roughly now will be (for a first time mum)
25 week
28 week
31 week
34 week
36 week
38 week
40 week
41 weeks (if you go over)

If you've not got a 25 week booked I'd call ASAP midwives tend to be booked up weeks in advance! Also you'll get your mat1b form at 25 weeks which you need for work for office maternity leave paperwork

Try to remind your midwife to book your next appointment at the one you're at going forward xx

@Mintypea5 I've just had the run around with the Doctors about the whooping cough vaccination. First receptionist said it wasn't done there and to call this other number which turned out to be the hospital midwife team but the other one that's part of a two hospital trust and the woman was adamant it is done at your local gp surgery! Called them back, different receptionist and she booked me straight in for next Wednesday.
It's such a confusing time as it is without having the stress of knowing whether I need to book appointments.
At all the other hospital appointments, we've just booked them straight after the scans. The midwife definitely didn't say anything about the 25 week appointment other than that she'd see me there.
I've got holiday booked from work around my 25/26 weeks so hopefully that means I can be a bit more flexible.
Will definitely be asking for it to be 100% clear when it comes to future appointments - I don't even really have a contact number other than the triage one for baby movements!