Due August 2021 - Third Trimester!

[Daffodil21]

Not totally up to date, sorry!

@wimbler - EDD 29 July, surprise 💛
@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 💙
@ready2020 - EDD 4 August, Girl 💖
@Xaxnxdxrxexaxandrews87 - EDD 4 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 💙
@Aaaaa1519 - EDD 13 August, Girl 💖
@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, Girl 💖
@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 💛
@Winecoffeeteamum - EDD 23 August, Girl 💖
@LaceyMermaid - EDD 24 August, TBC 💛
@Fran919 - EDD 25 August, surprise 💛
@ava50x - EDD 25th August, Boy 💙
@Ghhh - EDD 25th August, Boy 💙
@northernsquirrel - EDD 26 August, surprise 💛
@LyraShaeLilly - EDD 27 August, Girl 💖
@ame88 - EDD 28 August, TBC 💛
@diamante11 - EDD 29 August, Girl 💖
@HopefulB - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛
@CountryGirl84 - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛

@Millymay13 it's a thing! An unofficial competition to see who has endured the worst birth possible. Even folk who've had pretty easy ones need to jazz it up a bit for fear of being seen as having too easy a time if it.
The opposite applies to ELCS. In this scenario you absolutely must be up and about within a few hours, preferably back playing Netball or similar before the week is out.x

@BertieBotts thank you for the recommendation! Another friend recently also told me that the disposable pants are comfier than pads so I've bought those (most glamorous purchase so far 😂)

We just finished our NCT course tonight. It obviously wasn't the same as being in person, but overall I thought it was good. The sessions we had after all meeting up together in person were better too I think, it felt less awkward and there was more chat in the break out room bits.

@PurplePansy05 oh wow! I wonder how that happened, or if it's just a strange quirk of measuring. Good luck for your GTT tomorrow!

@alittlexmasmagic haha, that is so true! Maybe I should set up a birth stories bingo card to see if I can collect them all before it’s my turn to give birth!!

Thanks @biscuitcat! I just enjoyed my ice cream in case it's my last 🤣 I'm fasting till tomorrow now.

Re the birth, so glad we're a normal non-competing bunch on here. I avoid reading these exaggerated birth stories, as if this was going to help anyone! At least a third of them are a massive eyeroll. Add all the famous women always having a near death experience of childbirth as well, really xx

@PurplePansy05 good luck with the gtt! hope you get good results.

Officially having a crappy night. Pretty tired but just can't find a comfy position. This is in a super king size bed on holiday. If I can't get comfy here then there is no hope! Pretty sick of pregnancy just now. 😕

Ok the pants conversations have got me. I can’t figure wether you’re all beautiful underwear wearers so having to buy more practical pants, or whether I genuinely need to trade up my very dull but comfy bamboo bikini pants for something bigger.

I didn’t have periods for 15yrs due to Mirena, but then obvs managed blood loss when TTC and with miscarriages.

Does anyone know how post-parting blood loss would compare to say miscarriage?

(Next bit may be TMI - sorry)
I have really sensitive skin and got irritation/ moisture damage using pads post miscarriage. Any suggestions on how I prevent a massacre in the lady garden?

@Ready2020 I have a new SK bed at home and struggle to get comfy these days too. The bed is brilliant, it's just me!

@HopefulB Can't answer your comparison question as no idea after the full term birth, but all I've seen recommended was M&S full briefs (I got them in a size larger to what I am), Tena lady pants and these pads:

www.amazon.co.uk/Natracare-Organic-Maternity-Pads-Pack/dp/B0010XCJ1E?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

So this is my joyful selection for after the birth

I used to wear a selection of underwear, some nicer, but mostly just cotton tbh - it's just best for our bits, isn't it? Especially if they're meant to breathe to avoid infections or irritation xx

@HopefulB I am a thong wearer daily and never wear anything else so need to find some big post partum pants to purchase ! 😬 maybe try natracare maternity pads ? You can get them on Amazon and there are no nasties in them they're natural cotton so might not irritate your skin so much? My friend gave me some as a baby shower present and I was actually keen to try the tampons before I got pregnant as normal tampons irritate me down there after a few days of wearing them

@alittlexmasmagic I was so shocked, he came and was fiddling for a good 20 minutes whilst I was sat by the side of the road and he said it didn't look good and then he fiddled with something got in the car and drove off and I was like omg no way 🙈😅 so relieved !

@PurplePansy05 as if we wrote that the same time! Those are the exact pads I have just recommended too

Ha @lucyrp! I'm glad you said that following your experiences! I must have read some sensible advice before too if it aligns with what you've just recommended - phew 😊

That Natracare brand seems to have very positive reviews all around. I might try their sanitary pads, I'm a pad not tampon user and for years could only tolerate the cotton Always to avoid irritation. If it's a heavy flow I just have to change more often xx

Thanks both.
I’ll look at the Natracare maternity pads. I liked the Lillets Organic range (never realised Lillets made pads!) - but only found them via Amazon/Superdrug and there isn’t a maternity option.

So I've got the Lillets ones for my hospital bag

Lil-Lets Maternity Pads | 30 x Extra Long Maxi Thick Pads with Wings | 3 Packs of 10 Pads https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07LBLQSWP/ref=cmswwrcppapiglttfabcTFKF7FGC2MYBQ1GKHMTC??encoding=UTF8&psc=1

On the topic of knickers I haven't got any yet but thinking will get disposable ones for the hospital and like a pack or two of cotton black ones from m&s. I'm usually an 8-10 but will get a 10-12 possibly for comfort.

@Whatshouldbemyusername I got them in 14 or even 16, can't remember, and pleased to report they go alllll the way up the 33 week bump lovely with more space left It's a full brief + option, I'm very comfy in it xx

@HopefulB I also am very sensitive to different pads etc and also had a mirena for about a million years! I bought a couple of packs of the natracare maternity pads that others have suggested here because I've used this brand when travelling or on holiday. For normal periods (and mine tend to be relatively heavy post-mirena) I use soft reusable bamboo pads that I bought on Amazon. I have about 12 of them which gets me through a cycle. They are a lot gentler on my bits. Hoping to be able to use them after the first few weeks, as I've read the bleeding gets more manageable after 2-3 weeks.

@PurplePansy05 haha those are the ones!!!! I live near the m&s outlet too so always get knickers packs abit cheaper too x

More bleeding than miscarriage in my experience, but my miscarriages were very early around 6 weeks. You may also have stitches which affects how you feel down there.

I find disposable sanitary towels irritating, but maternity pads less so. I think because they have fewer chemicals in them. They are more old school and not built to be slimline or not noticed. I wouldn't recommend using normal sanitary towels for lochia if you're sensitive to them. The unbleached ones can be better.

That said in my first pregnancy I did find even the maternity pads irritated me after a while and I switched to improvised cloth pads which worked. I have some actual cloth pads now. Intended to use them last time but actually found I didn't need them. I don't know what changed but I was in hospital for a week and didn't want to bring loads of bloody rags home to wash. By the time I got home the bleeding wasn't that bad.

Ooooh M&S outlet 😍 I'd be raiding it for my pants and baby stuff every day, @Whatshouldbemyusername 🤣

I'm waiting for my second blood test now, pleased to say the glucose drink wasn't too bad actually. Very sweet for my liking, but it was tropical so not too bad 😊 Just gone through 60 pages of one of my pregnancy/birth books so time well spent & nice to have a break. xx

I'm also a daily thong wearer so have purchased some full briefs a size up from Primark! Have also sometimes been wearing the bikini Primark briefs during pregnancy and switching from thongs to them is a strange feeling. I use tampons and haven't used a pad since I was a teenager so not looking forward to the bleeding as I don't know how I'll cope with pads

@PurplePansy05 oh yes. Got newborn organic cotton sleepsuits from there! Also got a bath gap at the outlet and next too (they're all small so it's only a few pieces as and when)

Let us know how your results are xx

That was baby gap* 🤣🤣

Ok, so are we talking changing maternity/night pads every couple of hours?

I too have some reusable bamboo night pads so hoping to switch to those fairly quickly.

I can't remember TBH maybe it's best to do a post in Pregnancy or Childbirth asking about lochia? It will be fresh in people's minds there.

I do recall using two maternity pads one on top of the other on day 1/2 - changing every time I went for a wee because it was ming to put a soiled one back on. So yes probably every couple of hours, but it does calm down a bit fairly quickly.

I assumed it would be every couple of hours, that's what I tend to do on my period anyway. Days 1 & 2 have always been very heavy for me, I assume it would be at least that after childbirth.

All done now, if I have GD they said they'd let me know this week. Whatever the result, I'm quite chill, not long left anyway. xx

With post birth bleeding I found it was pretty heavy for the first few days and it intensifies when you breastfeed too as the action of feeding makes your uterus contract a bit as well. I never had leaks though and just wore the boots maternity pads with M&S black full briefs. I needed ones that came right up over my scar so went for a size 14 (usually a 10). They were fairly big on me but fine. Might go for some of the always pants this time too and the natra care pads.

For breast pads my favourite were the medela ones. They weren’t as plasticky as the lansinoh ones which irritated me quite badly. I switched to bamboo reusable ones after a few months so I’ll get some more of them too