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 💛

@Ready2020 what a great photo 😂 I can still see all my feet so I guess I’m doing ok 😂

I won’t tag everyone but thank you for the replies re: feeling a bit weird and disbelieving about babies/birth etc. Nice to know I’m not alone and it sounds like it’s just one of those things. Can’t help think I really am going to have the shock of my life soon...!!! But it’s almost like I’m talking about myself in third person and even I don’t think it’s actually gonna happen. Sorry I missed your thread @Daffodil21but I’m gonna try and find it now to see what others have said!

Doesn’t help when people ask how far along I am, the amount of people who say I was ohh I was born at 32/34/35 weeks, which panics me! I think that could be next week?!?!

@Smurf123 argh again?! Hope tests come back ok!

Sorry to hear about everyone’s aches- I have no cures to suggest but I am with you all. These days my bikini line area hurts to when I walk but I can’t get over uncomfortable trying to sleep is!

Oh and I should have said, sleeping on my side it’s like the baby is having a trampolining party! Can’t tell if he’s not comfy or using my belly being on the mattress as a good springboard and having fun!

I do not even want to think about those people born earlier, we are not ready 🙈🙈🙈 I am saying this as someone born at 36 wks. My maternity doesn't even start till 38 wks, I'm now thinking maybe I should have asked for it to start earlier and put my feet up xx

We’re not ready either!!! If he made a surprise appearance in 2 weeks... well I’d rather not think about it!!!

My mat leave is a week before due date but I’m taking annual leave before, I’m already grouchy and tired and struggling to concentrate, I’d be 10x worse when it’s warmer! @PurplePansy05 maybe you could use some leave? Did you ever hear back from your prospective employer about them hiring someone else? I still feel 😡 about that on your behalf!

@Inmypjsagain I would use my leave, I have 15 days left to use, but my current employer allows to use it after maternity leave together with what I will accrue during maternity leave. So upon consideration, I've worked out that I will tag along nearly an extra month at the and of my maternity leave thanks to my holiday entitlement, on full pay. I say a month, in reality it might be less as I might use some days off as phased return, but you get the gist. I've decided to perservere now despite it getting really hard, but I do want more time with my little boy after. We also think DH will take some SPL so we can be off together for some time before he stays with him on his own for a few weeks. That's the plan, but we'll see what the finances allow. Is anyone getting an illustration of maternity pay from payroll/HR? I was promised it and am still waiting, will be chasing them this week.

@Inmypjsagain I have crossed them out of my mind tbh! When I took a step back from this situation, I've concluded they really don't align with my principles as an employer and the last thing I need is someone being difficult at a time when flexibility and understanding will be key. So, hey, they're awful, but no regrets! I've had three other approaches since and whilst of course I'm not changing jobs now, it gave me some hope that something better will come up by mid-next year. I'm really getting into the frame of mind of trying to make changes to have more time with my son which frankly isn't like me, I was always quite career-orientated tbh. This has surprised me and I think I'll go with the flow and see what opportunities life may bring next year! xx

Thank you for all the pillow suggestions. I will give it a try tonight! I thought I had it sussed but nope!

I just did a good shop with my mum and bought the last bits for my hospital bag. Primark have some period pants for £6 which I thought might be useful for post birth? No idea of course 😂 and definitely not brave enough to wear them without added protection!

My husband arrived at 33 weeks, and so did his sister so as soon as I'm back from staying with my mum (next week) I'm packing my hosp bag straight away. After that we are ready whenever really (in terms of organisation anyway 😂). Managed to get everything off my list today!

I'm officially on maternity leave now (feels so strange saying that!), which I have to say is lovely even though it was a lot earlier than planned!!! It's meant I've been able to take a trip down to my hometown for a couple of weeks and not deal with my dick of an ex-boss! I really feel for you all still working, especially in this heat! I will probably regret this in March when SMP stops, but we are trying to plan for that now in case I'm not working straight away.

@Inmypjsagain it's here: Feeling detached from pregnancy (TW: pregnancy after loss) www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4262582-feeling-detached-from-pregnancy-tw-pregnancy-after-loss

Just to warn you it does talk about mc etc etc which I why I didn't post it here.

@Daffodil21 oh god I feel unprepared now ! I wasn't going to do any hospital bag shipping until 36 weeks 😂🙈

@lucyrp I wouldn't have even thought of it if it wasn't for my husband and SIL being so early!!

@Daffodil21 I need to do a primark shop for some big comfy pants, a nighty, some slippers etc bits like that 🙈😂 I was going to start buying some maternity towels too

How's everyone doing?? Can't believe we're so close. It feels unreal!
I've been advised to book an elective csection as baby is measuring bigger than average. My DS was 9.5lbs and this baby is measuring bigger than he was at this stage. Not done it yet as I still want to give natural birth a chance but we'll see.
Hope everyone is doing ok ✅ x ❤️

@Inmypjsagain I know! It really does feel like it's just been one thing after the other here! Thing is ds is finally settled in nursery too and only has 3 weeks left before we take him out for good as he then starts preschool in September and both dh and I are term time as school staff.

I was really hoping to grt ds clothes down from the attic to get sorted and washed.. Pretty sure we are having a girl but I have loads of neutral clothes from ds as we didn't find out with him. Unfortunately our garage conversion has stalled.. The room that will eventually be nursery is filled with the stuff that was stored in the garage which means we have no space to sort the clothes / attic baby stuff.
Ds was born at 37 weeks so 5 and a bit weeks from now.. I probably should start thinking of hospital bag.. I'm not quite ready for doing that yet though!!

@Smurf123 I did the same with my DS clothes the other day and I've got newborn and 0-3 clothes all washed folded and put away in the drawers but I keep forgetting they're in there 🤣

Feeling like my bump has finally popped this morning at exactly 31 weeks 😊 yay!! Have a wonderful day everyone

@lucyrp soo many big comfy pants! Can't remember if I said yesterday but they also have buttoned up nighties which I thought might be useful if bf?

@Hoares3 lovely bump! I'm staying with my mum atm and she keeps commenting on how big mine is 😂 yes I f*ing know!!

Just thinking - now we're starting to get to the last stretch which may be extra stressful for some, maybe we shouldn't tag people in the opening post of the next thread in case they don't want to be, but just link the next thread at the end of this one?

There's also some still on the list who haven't posted for a while so I would hate to be tagging them in things they don't want to be!

@Hoares3 lovely bump! Like @Daffodil21's mum, we saw some friends for the first time since I've been pregnant the other day and his opening line as I got out the car was 'I hope it doesn't cause offence but you're massive!' 😂

I started thinking about summer babies when we were there too - we saw their baby who is 6 months and another who is 8 months. I find it crazy that my baby, who is still cooking for another 2 months hopefully, will be in the same school year as those two who are doing so much already! Has anyone else wondered about that?

@Daffodil21 I think that's really sensitive and probably sensible for the next thread 😊

@biscuitcat I have! I had a cry the other day when I suddenly thought my little boy will be the littlest (or at least, the youngest!) in his class, I can't believe we'll be sending them to school so soon when they're so little 😭 Think some extra effort and support in the early years from mummy and daddy will help though, anything building up their confidence, social skills and curiosity.

We went to see our nursery of choice yesterday and I'm in love with it 🥰 I'm really happy he'll be going there, we saw two other nurseries and I wouldn't say I was overly impressed with them. One double-booked our appointment, was right by a busy road and had dirty, old cot mattresses in use and DH and I immediately just looked at each other and whispered "no"! They've since been way too keen to bring us board, sent tons of marketing and some dodgy unsolicited links which made me wonder where they are with data protection and whether they actually know what they're doing in terms of using apps and sharing baby photos and details on there - very off-putting. Whereas the one we actually chose is just lovely, staff are great, so many different rooms, toys, it got me all excited 😂 I have a feel he will be well looked after there.

I had my MW appointment today, she was really lovely, asked a lot about the recent stuff I've been through which was very kind. I will be speaking about the birth with a consultant at my 32 week scan and she's also arranged for a chat with a consultant MW so I am very grateful. I will be seeing my community MW again at 34 weeks. Phew. Back to work now 😑 But a decaf first! xx

@PurplePansy05 when are you planning to put your son in nursery? Slightly panicked that you are looking at them already, I thought I had ages!!

@LottSE20 When he's around 9-10 months I think, but the nursery we're looking at is very popular as it's the only one offering wrap around care for our local primary school and they've advised to book between 10-12 months in advance. Other nurseries advised to book 6-8 months in advance. It really depends on the area and whether you're hoping to have a longer-term care for your LO there I'd say, worth checking earlier and we wanted to visit them now without dragging the pram etc. with us later. xx

@LottSE20 I didn't enrol my son until he was about 4 months. A message was sent to all parents at the same nursery a few months back saying they were booked up until Sept 2022! Got baby's name down ASAP but thought I had ages. It is worth looking now if you have the time, definitely ask friends for recommendations x

Has anyone not had their Mat1B forms yet? I'm still chasing mine x

Wow, I guess I better get moving! I think I’ll be going back to work when baby is 1y but there aren’t many good nurseries round here that are open for the hours we need.

@PurplePansy05 glad it isn't just me! And yes, absolutely I think some extra support at home will make all the difference 🥰

@LottSE20 I think a lot of it depends on the nursery and also where you are - I have friends in London who practically have to look before baby is conceived! I'm just trying to arrange to go and look at my favourite nursery now, for some time between June and August next year (haven't decided how long I want to take off yet) - other nurseries locally I know I can leave later but this one is quite little and just seems to be so totally perfect that I don't want to leave it too late. It's on a working farm, right on my way to work, and really play based all the way through, as I always worry about introducing formal learning too early (I sort of wish I could go there myself 😂)

I'm being so unproductive today - baby is finally asleep after spending hours kicking so hard this morning and the work I need to do is really boring so I'm not feeling very motivated!

@biscuitcat This sounds perfect 🥰 The one we've picked has superb outdoor space too and kind of like a half-inside half-outside space for rainy days where children can still play and get some fresh air. And there's dinosaur corner there, I love dinosaurs 🤣 So jealous. On a serious note, they do exactly the same, education in line with the Welsh Curriculum from early on, but through play, so they can get eased into future school life gradually. When I was there I felt so at ease and realised it was so well equipped that even with the best of intentions DH and I just couldn't offer him the same options to develop his skills and interest and have fun. So I feel better about the fact he'll be in a happy place for part of the week at least 😊 I'll still rush for every minute and every cuddle with him though ❤

I've been up since 3am, my usual hip pain relief trick didn't work and he was having a right ball too. He's still awake and kicking, bless him! I'd be tired by now! 🤣 xx

@Daffodil21 could you ask for a cervical measurement to be done? That's supposed to be a pretty good predictor of early labour. My gynecologist measures mine every time but I think that's just because she isn't allowed to do a scan for any other reason and German doctors like their scans and checks! It's a vaginal ultrasound they do to measure it.

@PurplePansy05 lovely that you've found a nice nursery! It makes such a difference, I love DS2's nursery and need to get DS3 on the list ASAP! The last time I emailed the director she didn't reply though D: but they were all stressing about corona test rules that had just come in at the time.

Shops are finally opened here without appointments and tests so I am going shopping before picking DS up! Feels so surreal but exciting.

@PurplePansy05 oh that sounds so lovely too! The Welsh curriculum is so wonderful for the importance they place on play, I was at a talk once for work all about the importance of play in school/education and they were so full of praise for the Welsh model, I'd love if more schools in England were like that too.

@alittlexmasmagic wow, September 2022!! Whereabouts are you, if you don't mind me asking? Hoping I've not left it too late for my dream nursery 😓

I finally got my MAT B1 the other week after asking at my midwife appointment - she filled it in right there for me. Could be worth texting, or asking at the GP surgery?

@biscuitcat I'm in Bolton. Even the staff can't explain why it's so busy as normally they're stressing about not having enough come September. Perhaps there was a local baby boom. The nursery across the road is just as good and my friends toddler is there, they've not put any booked up announcements out.x