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 💛

Oh that's bad @Ready2020, I feel so sorry for your sister ❤ How is she doing in general? I can only imagine how hard things must be for her and definitely no need to make them eve harder! I'm glad she found the way. It's the hassle that isn't right, though. Bless her. xx

Oh @PurplePansy05 what a nightmare - it's just a ridiculous bureaucracy isn't it? Good for you for standing up to the midwife - as you say, it would have been so much easier for her just to tell you the procedure rather than digging heels in. You're so right that arrangements like this are needlessly stressful (for everyone involved I suspect).

@Whatshouldbemyusername I did flirt with the idea of placenta encapsulation for a bit 😳! But decided it's probably too hippy dippy for me, and I think the evidence base is quite woolly too.

Can I have my own little rant too? My sister has had her visa approved and she's booked her flight out to Aus for 4 days before my due date, I'm so upset about it. She's working in really tight parameters as her boyfriend has to leave the country so I understand it but it's just so rubbish, I've been crying off and on all day (just writing this has set me off!). I almost wish she was going now rather than so close to the time. Wish I could at least have some wine with my pity party but no luck there!

Sorry to hear you've both had such bad experiences and treatment @PurplePansy05 @Ready2020 . It just seems such an unnecessary stress which isn't needed. I hope you and your sister are doing as ok as you can be @Ready2020

@biscuitcat oh no so sorry to hear that. Also sorry you can't have a glass of wine to commiserate!

I definitely won't be eating the placenta 😱 will be quite happy not to see it too! But now I think about it I am sort of curious!

Just had my midwife app - all seems well. He's head down but thankfully not engaged. On my notes the consultant had written 'CS to be booked for 39 weeks' which sounds promising that they are going to agree to it, although I'll be seeing a different consultant next time so who knows. Midwife also said they'll be running some online classes starting from next week which I'm really pleased about. I'd prefer f2f but obv that can't happen atm, and she did say that people have been setting up WhatsApp groups off the back of the online classes, so hopefully that will happen for us. I'm going to make myself be the one to suggest it if no one else does!

I forgot my phone so didn't show the gross mucus photo 😂🙈

Oh @biscuitcat that's upsetting. Is there absolutely no way she could delay it by a fortnight or so? That's such a shame. I suppose your LO could come a little bit earlier, there's always a chance, but you can't bank on that and equally, it could be few days later. I'd be upset if I were you too, especially with their strict border rules now xx

I’m 34 weeks today and in the last few days I’ve just been really worried about it but I’ve googled the mucus plug and it doesn’t look like that. Assuming I’ll know if my waters break but I’m so paranoid!

@PurplePansy05 good for you for standing up to them but I’m sorry you had such a fight!

@biscuitcat oh that’s really sad, I’m sorry!

@Ready2020 your poor sister! All a bit of a joke isn’t it! Sorry you’re worrying about discharge too. Pregnancy just seems to be one big worry.

I am really grumpy today. Feeling fed up and emotional, I’ve cried twice for no real reason apart from being fed and I ache something chronic. Who ever said pregnancy was magical was a liar.

Is this normal to feel a bit down/grumpy/worse in the weeks before the birth? Girls who have children already?

I kind of feel I should be all chirpy, happy and relaxed, but I'm not and then I think I'll look back and regret it in few weeks' time when I'm exhausted, sleep deprived and probably with some aches and pains all over! I need to shake off this bad mood somehow! Thinking about booking a nice Italian restaurant outdoors for the weekend and arranging a couple of catch ups with my girlfriends. Maybe a manicure/pedicure, that would be nice.

Does anyone know what the drill is with having gel/shellac on your nails for the birth? I saw there are so many MN threads on that and some women say apparently you shouldn't have it, but virtually all of my friends had it? xx

If you're having a c section I think you need one nail free so they can put the oxygen monitor on your finger. Ask your midwife :) apparently sometimes it doesn't matter.

Yes very common to get fed up towards the end. It just seems to drag on and you're uncomfortable and in limbo.

@PurplePansy05 totally normal. There's a hell of a lot of strain both mentally and physical on your body at the moment.
Book whatever makes you relax. I think the reasoning behind not having shellac is they want to see your nail beds for colour (going blue?) but I've watched so many OBEM etc where ladies have acrylics etc. I imagine if it gets to the point your 02 levels are poor, the monitors will do a much more accurate diagnostic job than the colour of your nails x

I bloody hope it’s normal 😂 I think it’s just because everything is harder to do? And my body is tired. Ugh.

As for gels, I’ve been doing at home gel manicures the whole way through while sitting next to an open window. I’m hoping that’s ok… 😬

Thank you all ladies 💛 I know it's not as big a deal as some of the things you're all managing, but it's still rubbish and it means a lot having your kind words xx

@PurplePansy05 I know I've been getting grouchier! I think I offended DH the other day when I told him the baby had better like me better given I'm the one going through all the pregnancy woes. Booking the nice restaurant and some pampering sounds like just what the doctor ordered. I was thinking of trying to book a fancy dinner somewhere before baby arrives, you've promoted me to have a look for where to go 😊

Good to know it's normal, thanks girls 😊 it made me feel better!

Glad you'll be booking somewhere nice too @biscuitcat. After all, it won't be straightforward with a newborn and in our case, we'd likely miss out on both our birthdays as he'll be too little. So we'll bring the celebrations forward I think.

@Inmypjsagain Oh I don't care about the smell/fumes! Gosh, if I worried about that I wouldn't have taken the brush out of the packaging and I've painted 3 rooms in the house by now I meant that apparently as the girls said above, it's because if you have a section they need to check the colour of your natural nails. So I didn't want to end up being awkward with shellac nails when I turn up at the hospital in few weeks' time! xx

I was told before my c section that I had to have one finger nail polish free for the pulse monitor you have to have on your finger. They suggested if we wanted some last minute pampering to go for a pedicure instead! Also the thought of having to deal with shellac removal in the first few weeks of having a newborn is not something I would want to be bothered with!!

My thoughts exactly @wimbler! Pedicure it will be then xx

@PurplePansy05 wow I did not realise that at all 😂
I still have so much to learn!

Hi folks, hugs to those having a rubbish time.

Having had the oxygen monitor on me
On Sunday I can confirm the hospital will want 1 nail au natural.

It’s taken 11 weeks, a change to internal
Candidates only (so no cost pressure) and several conversations about what it says about the organisations commitment to women in senior leadership roles, but finance have FINALLY approved cover for my mat leave. I am so relieved. I’m was so worried about my team, it’s going to be a really tough few months for them with massive demand on urgent care due to people struggling to access usual healthcare for over 12months now, a potential surge in covid, the usual flu surge, and a predicted RSV surge all aligning for the perfect storm. 🥺

Is the oxygen monitor the finger clip on the ctg machine? I’ve done 8 tests on that, each time with nail varnish on and it hasn’t been a problem/no ones mentioned it to me? Probably safer to have a varnish free finger though

@HopefulB must be a relief to have that sorted!

@Inmypjsagain there wasn’t a finger clip on the CTG machine I was on, the finger clip was on the BP machine, but I can’t think of anything else measured that way, so likely you’ve already had it.

Just looked at google scholar, looks like there have been a couple of publications about nail polish and oximetry. Possible that different colour have different effects, dependent on the wavelength of light absorbed, but clinical significance unclear.

The finger monitor thingy works by putting a light through your finger and reading whether it's absorbed or reflected or something, so it doesn't work if there's nail varnish of some kind blocking it. It may be that certain types of gels are OK. Your midwife should know anyway. I seem to remember having nail varnish taken off one finger several years ago when I was in hospital with an infection, but that was just normal varnish - I've never done gels etc.

I know for babies the monitor goes through their foot :o so it might be possible to use a different body part? I'm guessing your hospital will have some kind of information sheet about preparing for surgery / c-section like with the guidance about what you're allowed to eat/drink beforehand.

I have always had gel polish and they tend to just turn the monitor so it sits sideways on your finger or upside down. Never been a problem for me.

@wimbler I'm already booking my nails in for after baby is born. I go every 4 weeks or so so wouldn't dare miss an appointment 😂

Who knew nail varnish could have such an impact on it?! It’s something I wouldn’t have even thought twice about! I’ll definitely be mindful of that from now on! I’d prefer it baby style on the foot!

Anyone else ready for bed?! It’s only Tuesday.. this week already seems long!

Probably an adult foot is too thick... You would have to ask a nurse :)

I have long painted natural nails, I've never had any problems when having BP taken. I'll have my nails painted for labour as I always paint them but I guess nail varnish is easier to remove than gels/acrylics etc. At the moment I can also still manage to paint my toenails!!!

TMI but it's anyone finding their discharge particularly fragrant? I asked DH before if he noticed me stinking and he said he's not noticed anything. I think I'm just a bit paranoid but definitely notice when I use the loo or change liners etc x

@BertieBotts and tbf my feet are a lot thicker these days 😂 so swollen

@MM1993 I’m still getting to my toes but I expect that will stop soon

@alittlexmasmagic hmm I’ve not noticed any smell yet but this week I’ve certainly noticed a lot more, my knickers feel damp- I had to google mucus plug to see if it was that. It could just be that you’re really aware of it?

I had that in the first trimester but it's not really bothering me now. Could be the heat and a bit combined with sweat? Sorry that's a bit gross!

Oh I'm getting all obsessed and stressy about birth. I thought I'd figured out what I want but now I don't know again and I am going around in circles a bit.