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Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

Due May 2009 - Childbirth is getting closer and it's giving us the (blue) willies!!

999 replies

SpangleMaker · 05/02/2009 20:45

In honour of llareggub's DS's painting experiments........

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Momino · 19/02/2009 11:30

lazzer, my wk 29 appt was the first time the MW measured me and yes, she did take a tape measure. she also told me baby is positioned with head right into my ribs (ouch) which is why I feel movement in lower abd (baby's feet).

i'm sure you'll be measured at your next appt.

pulapula · 19/02/2009 11:32

Lazzer, I think they start measuring after 25 weeks, but i'm not that sure that a big/little bump always correlate to a big/little baby, as I've known people with giant bumps have 5lb babies and vice versa. I usually measure below average for bump but have bigger than average babies (8-9lb). I guess there may be issues around amniotic fluid levels if bump is too big/little.

Ask your midwife to measure you at your next appointment if she doesn't offer it.

As for position, not sure they bother about that yet, as baby is small enough to still move around - maybe after 30 or 32 weeks they will start to look at position. Mine only had a quick feel this week (26 weeks) to work out where to put the doppler to listen to HR.

chocolatebunnies · 19/02/2009 11:39

lazzer where are you based? I got given my growth chart at 20 week scan and started being measured at 25 weeks, the just measure the size of bump from top to pubic bone, I had this done in my first pregnancy too.
pulapula thats a cute bump and a gorgeous bathroom may i add!
momino my midwife just said it was fine and that i have a lovely bump! whilst im sat there crapping my pants as shes not concerned at all. My dd was 8lb10oz when she was born and that was a nightmare and the aftermath to my poor foofoo was horrendous and I have to have "reconstructive" surgery after this little blighter is out so I don't really fancy pushing out a baby who is, according to the chart, going to be 10lb! My pelvic floor is clenching at the thought lol!
Is there anything I can do to prevent baby getting that big? ,maybe belgianchocs can help???

pulapula · 19/02/2009 11:40

Thanks Momino for your lovely comments. My bump does look petite next to yours (your girls are lovely too). I guess you are a few weeks further on than me- i tend to fill out at the very end (and my 2 stone weight gain is a sign i've been filling out elsewhere on my body ).

FiKelly · 19/02/2009 11:41

pulapula great photos and love the bump, great shape! and yes envious of your bathroom too

Lazzer they don't start measuring until after 25wks normally... don't know why. I was measured at my 25wk app but wasn't expecting to be... i've got my 28wk app on monday so i'll have 2 measurements to plot and see where i am on the chart...

pulapula · 19/02/2009 11:49

Thanks for all the comments about the bathroom too . One of the perks of old victorian houses and definitely something that attracted me to the house (although it is chilly in the mornings so i never want to get out of the shower)

Lazzer · 19/02/2009 11:52

Thanks to all for the info. I'm based in West London chocolatebunnies (Shepherds Bush way), my sister goes to a GP surgery just down the road from my one but she couldn't remember at what point she was getting measured there for her two pg-cies.

My midwife certainly didn't do it at my 27 week appt, but I will ask her next time. Would be nice to get a slight indication of size.

Normally my appointments are less than 5 minutes though, and my GP surgery knew NOTHING about the Health in Pregnancy Grant when I went last time. I had to print off details from the DWP and hand it to them, and they were skeptical even then that I can't just get the form as an individual (they suggested I go to the Jobcentre Plus) - it has to come from GP/hosp. I hope they have ordered the forms in for next time. I gave them the helpline number and had highlighted what they need to do to order the forms in.

Maybe they're just a bit useless or just very busy...

chocolatebunnies · 19/02/2009 11:55

i have put pics of my bump up now, taken this week, hope you can see them, not good a this tech stuff!

chocolatebunnies · 19/02/2009 11:58

lazzer id say they're useless lol! Although my midwife didnt say anything about grant today and I completly forgot! Is there a cut of point for me to sort it???
Fi What was your measurement at 25 weeks? Im measuring the same in cm as weeks at the mo!

Lazzer · 19/02/2009 12:04

chocholatebunnies at the moment there is no cut off point that's mentioned in the literature - but once you've been given the signed form from your midwife, you need to send to HMRC within 4 weeks.

With the crappy situation that you've been put in, every bit counts I guess [sypathetic emoticon].

chocolatebunnies · 19/02/2009 12:10

Oh yes indeed! That money will be so useful now! Was going to blow it on baby things but looks like it'll be going on rent now!

FiKelly · 19/02/2009 12:12

chocolatebunnies Just checked my notes... i was measured when 25+4 at 25cms... so pretty much average... my bump has suddenly popped out now though so mondays measurement will be v interesting!

chocolatebunnies · 19/02/2009 12:23

Fi thats exactly the same as me! i was average at 25weeks but now Im just under the top line! My bump has done the same, almost over night it has appeared!

Also, does anyone know if they're baby has a dolicocephalic shape head or if previous babies have? What exactly does this mean????

Belgianchocolates · 19/02/2009 12:32

chocolatebunnies I'm measuring a cm above the top line! I just want to reasure you that if you look at the graph on one side you've got the cm, that's for the mws to use to plot when they measure you with a tape measure. The weights at the opposite side do not mean you're baby is going to be that certain weight if you measure that high; the weight side is actually for the use of the scanners to plot the baby's growth by estimated weight on scan if women have regular growth scans. So don't panic! Measuring on the 90th centile doesn't mean you'll have a 10lb baby. The measurement is only a guideline, it doesn't actually take into account the amount of fluid or your own extra body fat you might be have. The only thing you can do to prevent your baby getting too big is not give in too much into unhealthy sweet or fatty cravings. If you eat a good healthy balanced diet, your baby should not get too big. Don't forget that you've had a baby before, so chances are that this delivery will be easier even if the baby is bigger.

Belgianchocolates · 19/02/2009 12:38

I've just re-read my post, I hope it makes sense to you chocolatebunnies, because I'm finding it a bit confusing to try and explain things without the actual chart to show you.

My dh and I went out for a meal last night for the first time in many many months. It was lovely. The only annoying bit was that babes had decided to spend the night kicking my bladder everytime I leant forward to take a bite of my food making me very uncomfortable.

I quickly looked up dolicocephalic and it means long and narrow head. Don't know what they mean with that.

Right I'm now definitely going to do some reflecting for my portfolio.

chocolatebunnies · 19/02/2009 12:40

Belgian I love you lol! Thank you so much! You have put my mind at rest! Why didnt my midwife tell me this instead of setting me in a panic?? She also told me that my PGP will get worse?! Im thinking she might not be the most sensitive of ladies!

Has anyone been able to look at my bump pics yet? Just so I know I've set it up properly!

Hmmm what do I want for my lunch today?! Madi has requested a cheese sandwich with butter in lol!

Momino · 19/02/2009 12:43

chocbunnies... your bump... . very .

why am i so big this time??? am i eating too much sugar? I don't feel likeI've done much diff than the last two but am so much bigger this time. i don't think I can handle 10 more weeks of growth!

chocolatebunnies · 19/02/2009 12:45

Thats what they told me belgian I have no idea whether thats something I should worry about it or not? I guess not as they dont seem worried about it, apparently my head is the same shape, so the sonographer said, much to my dp's ammusement!

I totally understand what you mean! Have the graph here with me now!

Can you not be my midwife lol???? You understand so much better than mine!

Momino · 19/02/2009 12:45

i'm having trouble deciding what for lunch too. just threw in a tin of chickpeas, tin of tomatoes, chopped potato, spinach, some spices, garlic... cooking it a bit and we'll see what comes out. sounds good written down but my taste buds have gone flat.

chocolatebunnies · 19/02/2009 12:48

lol sorry momino ! I'm alot smaller this time round, but then this is apparently due to me being a Coeliac this time, but it would appear its not affecting the size of baby, just size of me! Being a coeliac means I cant eat any of the things I gorged myself on during the last pregnancy. I don't think I'll be this size for long mind you, I have developed a serious craving for Crunchies! Hell hath no fury like a pregnant lady needing a crunchie!

chocolatebunnies · 19/02/2009 12:50

can I have some of that please momino???

sausagenmash · 19/02/2009 12:56

chocbunnies - I'm v too. I'm HUGE in comparison and am 26+1. Maybe I'm just a heffalump.

This week is so poo. I sold my lovely Ka on the 7th, along with dp's golf, so we got a sensible car together. Just got an effing "civil traffic enforcement notice" for my Ka after I'd sold it, on the 12th!!!! Apparently the numpty who has it now stayed 26 minutes longer in a free car park than they should have.

AAARRGGHHH

FiKelly · 19/02/2009 12:59

chocolatebunnies I think you have a lovely neatly shaped bump

Just phoned the delivery suite at the new hospital we're booked into this time... and to my relief they do tours. DH & I realised last night that we had no idea of where to go when the time comes! Have to wait till 22nd march but i'm sure the time will fly. I'm going to ask about availability of private rooms for after the birth... do DH can bring DS to visit without affecting the new 1st time mums... and hopefully I won't then be disturbed by anyone elses lo's apart from my own at night...

Polony · 19/02/2009 13:00

chocbunnies surely the chart has to be wrong - your bump isn't big at all, it looks quite small to me (nice pictures by the way). I hope thats ok to say so - I snapped at someone who said it looked like I was growing a good sized baby...I'm a little nervous about how big I'm going to get (not really worried about the baby being big - have a lot of faith in my bits or am naive enough not to be too concerned) because I'm worried that with the weakness in my legs I won't be able to walk (although still going strong! yah! bootcamp!), so maybe I'm a bit sensitive in that regard. But anyway if your baby is big, then I'm having an elephant. My measurements, or the baby's rather, are all on the average line, so I know my baby isn't huge, and I haven't really put on weight anywhere but on my lady lumps. So the bump is as the bump does...

Don't worry though - you've got enough worries to make it through, try not to give yourself new ones!

pulapula your kids are so gorgeous - such cute little things. Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing. Are you Australian by any chance?

dandy - mine spits. It speaks to me in ways I would never speak to anyone else, although I know exactly where the mannerisms come from...you're right its hard to go into in public, as much as I value the support of this forum (I think the women here are brilliant, its such a good outlet and community) I don't want to bore everyone with the details.

Belgianchocolates · 19/02/2009 13:03

Aaah, chocolatebunnies what a cute little bump. That was me at 18 weeks Thanks for the lovely comment about wishing that I was your midwife. I wouldn't be any good to you come May though, I might be in labour at the same time! I don't think you'd have to worry to much about baby's head shape, especially as they said that it's the same as yours. With my dd an SHO said baby's head was on the large side. The consultant told him off for worrying me unneceserally and that it was probably just hereditary while looking at my DH. My dh still hasn't forgotten or forgiven!
momino maybe it's a 3rd baby thing to be so much bigger than before. I'm sure I'm bigger than with my other 2.

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