Aug 2021 - half way there!

[HopefulB]

@wimbler - EDD 29 July, surprise 💛
@Champson - EDD 22 August (but really June/July), TBC 💖💖💖
@coffeeandrainbows1- EDD 4 August (but most likely July), Boy 💙
@Jessicapebbles - EDD 5 August (but having C-section at 39 weeks, so really July), Girl 💖
@Smurf123 - EDD 5 August (but likely to be July) 💛
@WhatEvenIsSleep - EDD 2 August, Boy 💙
@Smushty14 - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Rattyclife - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Dia12 - EDD 8 August, Girl 💖
@Biscuitcat - EDD 10 August, surprise 💛
@ElonaWise - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@Runnergirl123 - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@PurplePansy05 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@Srtdr - EDD 12 August, surprise 💛
@Daffodil21 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@Inmypjsagain - EDD ???, Boy 💙
@BananaHammock23 - EDD 13 August, surprise 💛
@MrsB2019x - EDD 13 August, Girl 💖
@Magik01 - EDD 13 August, Boy 💙
@Carefree1 - EDD 15 August, Girl 💖
@DressyGerbera - EDD 15 August, surprise 💛
@lucyrp - EDD 16 August, undecided 💛
@BertieBotts - EDD 16 August, want to know! 💛
@WolfMother326 - EDD 17 August, surprise 💛
@Caz1226 - EDD 17 August, Boy 💙
@Lille4 - EDD 17 August, TBC 💛
@Redskinsucks - EDD 17 August, TBC 💛
@RockyRockyRoad - EDD 18 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@Smallbean27 - EDD 19 August, surprise 💛
@WatermelonKisses - EDD 20 August, surprise 💛
@Alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@Millymay13 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Whatshouldbemyusername - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@LottSE20 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Notinthestarsigns - EDD 23 August, TBC 💛
@LaceyMermaid - EDD 24 August, TBC 💛
@Fran919 - EDD 25 August, surprise 💛
@northernsquirrel - EDD 26 August, surprise 💛
@LyraShaeLilly - EDD 27 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@ame88 - EDD 28 August, TBC 💛
@diamante11 - EDD 29 August, Girl 💖
@HopefulB - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛
@CountryGirl84 - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛

On a different note, is anyone else feeling exceptionally tired? I feel first trimester type tired- I sort of ache from tiredness. on the sofa and I don’t think I can get up... and if I do, itll be to go to bed...

@Inmypjsagain yes definitely... I'm hungry but the idea of moving to actually make food seems too difficult! I reckon I'll be in bed before long!

@biscuitcat omg that sounds amazing I'm so jealous 😍🤤

@Daffodil21 saying that it was a male doctor who actually talked me through my blood resukrs after the lady doctor had just told me they were "normal"🙄🙄

@PurplePansy05 it was yummy !!

@Inmypjsagain yes so tired. Last night I was cooking tea and started fine and within minutes I had completely zonked out and OH had to take over. I was asleep on the sofa within the hour and I can't remember going up to bed

@LyraShaeLilly Cheese
The risk is Listeria infection, which although rare, could be harmful in pregnancy. The best info I found was:
Listeria grows in high-moisture, low acidity cheeses and for this reason pregnant women should avoid soft (e.g. soft goat, Brie-style, washed-rind) semi-soft (e.g. territorial cheeses: which are fairly high-moisture and young) and mould-ripened (e.g. blue) cheeses.
Hard, aged cheeses (which conversely are low-moisture, high acidity) are environments hostile to Listeria survival and safe to eat. (the NHS is in agreement on this, where ‘all hard cheeses are safe in pregnancy.’)
Cheese rinds pose a higher risk because a) Listeria tends to grow better in a rind environment b) it is the point at which the cheese is exposed to any potential environmental contamination. We advise pregnant women not to eat the cheese rind, even on hard cheeses.

But temperatures of 65-75 kill Listeria so if you’re cooking it then that would kill the bacteria.

@LyraShaeLilly I ate about 4 slices of goats cheese off a log including the rind a few weeks back because I looked it up and it said it was fine 🤷🏼‍♀️🙈

@lucyrp it's so yummy! And comes together in 5 minutes so perfect for when we're feeling lazy

@LyraShaeLilly advice has already been given but I thought I'd add I just bought Brie in my online shop to have raw on crackers this week 😬 I've been craving it and am taking a balance of risks approach that I've never been sick from Brie before so it would be really bad luck to start now

So I gave the whole pack to DH, not worth the risk!!

@biscuitcat Oh yes I’m totally the same usually but I’ve become such a carnivore in this pregnancy I can’t wait 😂😂😍😍

@Smurf123 ditto, had husband bring food to me! Too comfy here.

@lucyrp think that’s me tonight! Feel like a zombie, just had an accidental nap and feel 10x more groggy. Makes me wonder if there’s a growth spurt happening.

Watch how I go to bed now and am wide at by 3:30am 😴😴

I've suddenly developed love of sausages 😳 I might actually be slightly obsessed after months of eating mainly veggie. Lamb and beef also delicious 😁 xx

Haha you must be low on iron!

I am also experiencing total zonk energy loss. Luckily DS2 is finally going almost full days to nursery now. I have so much time to do stuff, I actually wrote some of my blog plus did some home admin and cleaned the bathroom today! Most days I just manage to drag myself out of bed, drink a coffee and then zombie in front of facebook until I pick him up.

I sometimes go through phases of eating more red meat, had it pre-pregnancy too. I normally eat red meat probably once a fortnight and it's as if my body was telling me every few months that I need a top up, so then I eat a bit more. Bloods were always fine.

It's the sausages now though, I would eat them every day 😂

Is it the case that pregnancy can lead to some deficiency in vitamins/minerals? I think I saw something about calcium and oddly, throughout the pregnancy I've been drinking milk and fancying more dairy products. xx

@PurplePansy05 yes, if you don't consume enough calcium then your baby will take it from you, which can cause osteoporosis

I love sausages. I clearly live in the right country :o

Bertie, German sausages are definitely up there 👌

@Inmypjsagain sorry to hear you haven't had a great experience at QCCH. Maybe I have low expectations, coming from the US the maternal care my friends have received is not spectacular, and here most of my concerns have felt listened to and not just related to my Crohns (for example, I mentioned being told I have a short cervix by a previous doctor and have been given extra cervical scans, and I'm having pelvic pain and am already seeing a physio next week). I really hope you can find a good hospital for you - where else are you looking in the area?

As for tiredness, I feel fine in the mornings having slept almost 8 hours most nights, but then by 2pm I need a nap. Also super hungry, needing much more food than in previous weeks. I guess the babies must be growing!

@WolfMother326 I said the same to DH last night. We had dinner at 6pm becauseI was hungry, by 8pm I was hungry again and needed something smaller, say around 200-300 calories worth of food. It's like I need an extra meal now, but not a massive one and not even unhealthy, I crave good stuff (minus sausages and chocolate). Definitely more hungry since last week or so. xx

@PurplePansy05 same here! Except I get very hungry late afternoon and have been having a big pile of fruit and a bagel. Could be healthier I know, but I tend to have very healthy main meals so don't feel too bad! I can't eat red meat due to my medical condition (so sad) but I've been having lots of poultry and (safe amounts) of fish with heaps of vegetables.

I’m craving porridge it seems to be all I snack on, that and a lot of fruit and nuts
I do give myself a little treat most days like a chocolate biscuit or something- all in moderation I say! Xx

@WolfMother326 That’s so good to hear! May I ask how you managed to get the referral for physio? I spoke to my midwife about pelvis and back pain and she basically said that it’s part of being pregnant. Daffodil on here recommended acupuncture and the acupuncturist suggested physio and I have my first private session tomorrow. I was looking at Chelsea & Westminster and St Mary’s- my mum really thinks I should stay at QCCH as we have family friends who have had great experiences with difficult pregnancies and post birth complications. A friend who works at Northwick Park chose QCCH because she considers it best for all maternity care, so I think I’ve just been unlucky. Can’t imagine what it must be like in the US (and the cost!) so I don’t mean to sound ungrateful!

Sounds like we’re all tired and having naps- good to know it’s normal!

Am very jealous of you all eating healthy and good food- I’m still struggling with nausea and dysguesia. I can tolerate fruit but vegetables taste poisonous- I have to suck on a mint straight after dinner. The only things that taste nice are cakes, pastries etc and I am really trying to restrict them because obviously it’s not great for me. Anyone else in the same boat or have I been very unlucky? I dream of enjoying a meal! My hunger feels constant but never satiated.

@Inmypjsagain it sounds like you've had a really rough time of it, I'm sorry you're still struggling to eat and also having pelvic pain. I was so nauseous until about week 14, but have felt pretty much fine since. Can you stomach bland things like mashed potatoes? Don't worry about what you can and can't eat - if cake feels ok right now, just do that. I have a friend who was very sick all the way through week 22 and then it cleared up - will be hoping this for you too!

As for the physio, I was able to book it by calling the QCCH maternity/midwife helpline (this is listed inside my maternity notes, do you see it in yours, on the front of the first page?) they were very kind and booked me for a physio appt. There was a two week wait, which isn't that bad. My pain has gotten a lot better in that time but I am going to keep the appointment, as it's a video call anyway. If you have a private in person option that is likely better anyway!

@Inmypjsagain I also got a referral to a physical just by asking my midwife.
How did you get on with acupuncture? Or did they just suggest physio?

@WolfMother326 It’s interesting to hear you can’t eat red meat! Is that because of your crohns? It’s so individual isn’t it, I can’t have any element of spice or bread without having a flare up!

@Jessicapebbles yes red meat has always been a huge trigger for me. I can have bread no problem, but no spice/nothing curry and very sadly red wine also seems to cause a flare up. I'm about to start that new medication I was mentioning previously on Monday, wondering if I'll be able to have a wider range of food (a hamburger would be incredible).