Due June 2020: thread 6

[AndddddHerewegoagain]

Hi everyone. Hope you don't mind me setting up the new thread didn't want to run out of space on the other one!

@Busylizzie85 aww that so good they have you an approx weight! It's never been mentioned at my appointments but I'd love to have an idea. I've measured as expected each week so far 😬 how many weeks are you? I'm 35 today.

@sarahlounich I'm 34+4 so not far off you! I made a point of asking today, she measured bump and I asked which way she was facing and so on! It's only an approximation on a graph but it made me feel good to know all looks ok 😊

I'm looking forward to my midwife appointment tomorrow, I feel like she's moved again and I can either feel her bum or head up by my ribs.... when I had a scan last week she was head down!

Did she mention why she might be early @Busylizzie85 ? It's really interesting!

34+1 today!

I think my little one is transverse, I had lots of
Pressure last night as she wiggled into position,
It was very uncomfortable! I have the midwife tomorrow, I'm a bit behind
You ladies at 30+6 but I will deliver at 38 weeks around the 17th June. I'm planning on washing some baby clothes today for hospital bag, and start getting my bag prepared.

I had the worst nights sleep all my muscles/ ligaments around the bump were hurting. I ws waking up every couple of hours in pain. The only positive im taking from it is that hopefully its my body gearing up for labour as i really don't want to be induced! But i feel its more likely that I've overdone it chasing after a 3 year old DH is still working.

Not feeling it today so child is being parented by cbeebies, and we've only just got dressed. Have a zoom hospital appointment at 1pm so need to look presentable for that!

@Smiffette think it's just midwifes intuition! My mum who works in the same surgery which is nice for me as I get to say hello took one look at me and said I'll be early as well maybe I just look huge 😂🐳

Aww interesting! I might have to see if my midwife will have an idea!

I have my MW appt in a bit. I always get nervous beforehand for some reason.

I've also just read on my maternity hospital's FB group that they are now no longer offering water births at all. They had been allowing them for those with no symptoms. To say I'm gutted is an understatement. Yet another thing being taken away from this pregnancy. This is likely to be my first and only pregnancy and I feel robbed, if I'm honest. Sorry for the doom and gloom. Just feel really down at the mo 😔

I understand you feeling down about it @APD1981. Looking on the bright side, maybe they’ll change back to allowing water births before you are due?

I’ve just tried to book my 34 week appointment but I forgot about the early May bank holiday now being the Friday. Midwife only does every other Friday at my surgery so I’ve left a message for the main community midwife office. The area they cover is huge so Now a bit worried about having to go miles away for my appointment but we’ll have to see what they say.

@APD1981 it does really suck being pregnant at the moment, particularly when it's your first. I think it's fine to mourn that. Re: water birth, I suspect it is a small proportion of first time mums who get to have one to be honest. Any kind of medical intervention and you can't, there are only a limited number of suites with pools etc. I would have loved one but 0 chance due to needing a trace and then needing induction

@babybird20 also had awful cramp the other night and can still feel pain in my leg where it was a few days later. I've been having a banana before bed and trying go stretch legs and have short evening walk, and haven't had cramp since but could be a coincidence. Was so painful I was screaming in agony at the time so dreading more cramping!

I would really like a water birth. I think they are still doing it where I'm giving birth but only have one and it's first come first served so depends on whether I'm lucky or not. I wasn't going to consider a home birth but now I'm wondering if that would be a good idea so I could hire a water birth thingy, but I'm open to pain relief if needed so would rather a water birth in hospital to be honest. I guess all I can do is make my preferences known and see what happens.

@APD1981 I know how you feel. I had a cry this morning because I just feel like so much of the things we should get to experience as first time mums, we can’t.
I watched a video my maternity unit put out about how they’re handling changes due to covid-19 and while it was a positive video and they’re clearly working hard to provide the best care possible. I just got so upset when they were talking about the fact that when you are moved to the post natal area after birth your birth partner has to go home and then you won’t see them again until you leave.
I’m upset more on behalf of my husband. I know me and baby will be well looked after in hospital, but this is his first baby too and it’s so unfair that he will have to go home and leave us for who knows how long.

Think I’m just particularly hormonal today because I’m tired and I feel like shit today and I’m sure the rainy weather isn’t helping!

It really does help when I post on here and so many of you tell me you're feeling the same. Thank you x

I've just got back from my MW appt. She said practically everyone she sees feels the same as me now and the MWs themselves are upset for us. She said things may still change in the next few weeks so clinging onto that. When I asked her earlier on in my pregnancy about a water birth she said at my hospital if you want one, you generally get one (availability-wise, not if you can't because it's not medically possible etc).

She also measured me the same measurement I was when I went into triage for reduced movements a couple of weeks ago so now my growths look static. However, before I even showed her my chart I told her I think the MW in triage measured me from lower down my pelvis rather than the top because it felt wrong (she was a rather authoritative MW and I didn't want to say anything!). Triage MW also commented that it felt like I had a cricket ball in my tummy as its bum was sticking out the top of my bump making it cone shaped. It happens quite a lot and changes the shape of my bump so that could account for the triage MW measuring me so far ahead. If you discount the triage measurement then from what I measured today, I'm following the growth curve perfectly. Anyway my MW said she'd have to phone FMU to check what to do. They're not now scanning for static growth so I'm not going in for a scan (was secretly hoping for a sneaky peak at baby) but I will be measured in 2 weeks. And I've now got to be even more vigilant of movements and if I have the slightest concern I have to call. That probably would then trigger a scan but I suppose it's better that everything is ok and I don't need one.

Phew,sorry for the essay but there are so few people in my world who understand all of this!

34+2

Just when I thought I felt prepared .... I saw something on YouTube that I'm now questioning lol

Do I need a changing mat cover? I bought a plasticky one from John Lewis and thought u could place the baby straight on there? But I've read some ppl use covers before placing them on? I don't plan to place them on naked. Rather just undress them from their bottoms only so they won't feel cold. Do I need covers?? 😬

@rinoa It's personal preference. I bought some changing mat covers from amazon as I was doing an order anyway and I heard they're less cold than the plastic, but you could just chuck muslin over! I also plan to use them in changing bag for if I change baby while out rather than a fancy foldable changing mat. So, may be handy but not something you NEED.

@Rinoa I’m not bothering with them I’m just going to use a muslin

I put DC1 straight on the plastic changing mat as anything else just added to the washing pile!

Thanks ladies !

@rinoa I went with a foamy swim mat this time around. enough padding even on a hard surface but washes and dries fast. Also rolls up so good if space for a mat is an issue.

So my sleep quality has gone down the drain with all the hip pain and discomfort - it's probably contributing to my baby brain. I was meant to ask my midwife at my last appointment for some sterile syringes for colostrum but when she ended with - do you have any questions for me? I completely drew a blank!

Anyone else find baby brain getting worse at this stage?

I just used a hand towel on the changing mat for my ds.
I have a slightly embarrassing but very painful pregnancy ailment. Vulval varicose veins it's agony, anyone else?

Hand towel on changing mat also

We did a small towel or muslin on the mat when DS was tiny. I don't think we bothered after a few weeks.

@Blizy ME TOO!! I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I've just ordered myself some support pants, I really hope they help. I've really bad constipation and piles too, so generally miserable in that area. Hate being on my feet for any length of time. None in my legs though, which is weird.

@Magpiefeather my next antenatal appointment was due on the bank holiday too. At the hospital, though, rather than the midwife. Usually you just book your next one before you leave, but she took my details to see what was being arranged. Got a letter through that they've put a clinic on the Thursday instead, so I've got an appointment at that. I wonder will your midwife have something similar?

@MissisBee snap with the constipation and piles. We are living such a glamorous life...