Due August 2009 - Does My Bump Look Big In This????

[kitkatqueen]

Hello everybody Here is the shiny new thread, hope you found it ok!!

hencath- 6lbs at 36 weeks roughly means 8lbs at 40. Not giant, just normal! Someone on my 40+ has just been scanned at 8.5lbs at 36 weeks 2 days. Now that's quite big. Also growth scans are never 100% accurate. They were out by about 2 lbs with my third (they estimated little over 5 lbs at 40 weeks, she was born at 42 weeks weighing 7.5lbs.). So I would take them with a big pinch of salt!

Hi Duchesse,

I know its not very accurate but even the consultant said it was a big baby when examining me. I am actually 33 + 5 today not yet 36 weeks!! I'm not overly concerned about baby's size more worried I may not get to finish my NCT classes if early!!

Oh, I somehow thought you were 36 weeks (must have misread) Actually that makes it the baby a tad over 9lbs at term, then isn't it? My first was 8lbs 12 at 40+10. He took a while.

Am off for my 34 week growth scan on July 7th. Will be 34+2 by then. Will report back.

Oh, and my consultant with number 3 after examining me at 40 weeks told me to expect a 5.5 lb-6lber. I bet her between 7.5 and 8lbs (going on similarities with previous pregnancies). Apparently she roared with laughter when told my daughter's weight (7lbs 9oz, so into my prediction). All this to say that it's not as accurate as it could be. Does your tummy feel as though it's all baby? Or are there still gaps between bits as it were?

hencath really don;t worry. I have been having growth scans too and my last one (last week) at 34wks showed the baby was 6lbs too. At my reckoning that is also a 9lb plus baby, they had previously told me the baby was big (they were estimating >10lbs) which is why I was having the scans but that the new measurements bring it into a more normal range. So I am not having anymore scans. my first was 9.10 (the size wasn;t noticed or pointed out until after birth ) and I was fine and had a natural birth which I am convinced was because he was a good size. I am quite tall and DH is v tall , which prob explains the big babies, I am convinced that my body is just made to grow them that bit bigger.

There are also huge positives to a bigger baby when they are born as you get less hung up with feeding issues etc. I also agree with duchesse these scans are only an estimate and are often quite a bit out.

I am sooo struggling with this heat now. I normally walk everywhere but have found myself hopping in the car even for short trips. Really not enjoying these temps..as am also v short on mat shorts/skirts etc (so having to keep doing laundry) hoping it will cool down a bit after the weekend

cairns I too am using the car for really short trips and am trying not to feel guilty about it. Have been picking my older two up from school in the car, it is just toooooooooo hot to walk, I would melt. Nope, not enjoying the 29 degree heat at all, makes my head fuzzy and everything apart from lying on the sofa is a huge effort. And I truly think if one more person says 'ooh you must be a bit hot' I may just have to spontaneously combust all over their cool white linen clothes.

Hi all. I'm in bloody hospital after sudden bleed at 34 weeks plus 3. The bairn is fine apparently and my cervix still completely closed but it's a risk factor for labour so they're keeping me in for surfactant injections and observation. Hoping to go home tomorrow as bleeding has pretty much stopped now. I think I might stop work now tho instead of waiting till 38 weeks as I was planning. Don't fancy being at work constantly worrying about whether I'm about to go into premature labour or start bleeding again. Plus as you've all said the heat is just massively oppressive at the moment, which again won't lead to great work on my part, I suspect. Anyone know the rules re when pregnancy related sick leave is automatically converted to mat leave? Did you experience something similar, yank? I do want to put off mat leave as long as possible so I can spend most of it with the baby and was hoping to use at least a few days sick leave plus all my annual leave before it starts being mat leave proper. Mind you will all be academic if the baby really decides to come early I guess. Gulp. Hope this message is readable. I've never mumsnetted from my mobile before and can't work out how to do paragraph breaks. Doh.

ScummyMummy - Sorry to hear you're in hospital but good that everything's ok. I'm pretty sure that sick leave switches to maternity leave at 36 weeks (hopefully someone else can confirm), so if you have 2 weeks annual leave left you could start your mat leave at 38 weeks as planned.

I'm just back from visiting my nephew at the hospital. He's tiny, but gorgeous and doing really really well. Got to have a little cuddle too

oh dear Scummy! Hope you are all right and glad they've said baby is okay. Becksy is right, if you are on sick leave when you hit 36 weeks you automatically start maternity leave. So potentially you could take a week sick, then switch to annual leave?

I decided to start my mat leave/pay at 29 weeks, because I was so sick of my boss's constant letters. Probably not an ideal decision on reflection, I easily would have been signed off until 36 weeks with all the wrist pain and continuing SPD!

hencath, don't worry about starting NCT now. There were two in my class that finished at 39 weeks, and two of us were sort of early in finishing at only 31-32 weeks. It was just when we could get into a class--there didn't seem to be any late July/early August classes going. Am starting NHS ones this week (two classes then hospital tour) so will be done with all of it before 35 weeks. Then will probably sit around and fester for another 7 weeks.

I bought a pair of flip flops from Asda for £2 today--two sizes bigger than normal. They are horrible, and I hate having things between my toes, but I solidly refuse to spend money on something I only need for 2 months! They'll be good for the hospital shower too, so I'm told. It's so weird, I look down, and it's like my feet/ankles have been replaced by someone else's.

oh yank, thanks for the reminder about flip-flops! i think those and some cheap granny pants are the only things missing from my hospital bag now, apart from getting together a few more snacks to take with me.

on the subject of snacks/drinks for the hospital bag, what's anyone else planning to take in with them? have so far got some little cartons of fruit juice and am getting hold of a cool bag so i can take in some iced water and a couple of bottles of lucozade sport as well. snack-wise, i've bought some mini chocolate bars and some mini cheddars & i'm planning to freeze some grapes, but honestly can't imagine what i'm going to want to eat whilst i'm in labour! i'm picturing taking half a corner shop in with me and then not really fancying any of it.

duchesse - thanks for the tip about boots and premature clothes. DP steered me away from mothercare on sunday because he thought i was going a bit OTT & assumed that the NICU would have little clothes that they could lend, but seeing how huge the bodysuit they had my nephew in yesterday was, i think that's probably not the case! not sure when we're next going to visit so might just order a few bits online & get them sent in & "forget" to mention it to DP

I am 32 weeks and I am MASSIVE
I am as big now as I was at 43+1
WHY?!

I am so huge I feel like a massive bulging termite queen that just lays there and procreates while the drones do all the work

I have had to hire a cleaner as I am too big to move

I have new stretch marks developing on top of old ones

I am sitting at work - mat leave starts friday thank fuck

But surely being this big cannot be normal!?

Fury- I am so with you on that queen termite feeling.

And as for hiring a cleaner, well I did that years ago!

hhnf I have no advice for you but I do have plenty of sympathy
I am 31 weeks now and never got this big 1st time round.
Even my maternity clothes are starting to give up on my ever expanding bump I am already wearing maternity clothes that are 2 sizes bigger than i am for extra stretch and my over bump jeans now sit half way up bump

I cant afford a cleaner but am training up DS (nearly 3) to be quite good with the polish and duster lol

I actually had a really good cry yesterday because I couldnt cope with the heat I feel like I am stuck in the house because if I go anywhere it has to be icy cold or I feel faint and I cant sit up straight for more than 5 minutes so cant get comfortable!

I see the consultant again 2 weeks on thursday and can see me begging the consultant to get these babies out

hellhath love the queen termite image. Except I don't seem to have any drones around here.....

But I think it is, unfortunately, normal - at least, I am in the same position and neither midwife nor consultant are the least bit concerned. I, however, am fed up of being the local freak show for being so huge. A few weeks ago most people were saying 'ooh any day' and looking shocked at being told I had several weeks to go. Now on being told I've still got (at least) 4 weeks to go they ask 'is it twins?'. Am quite looking forward to school holidays starting so I don't have to run the twice-daily gauntlet of well-meaning acquaintances.

Thanks, becksydee and yank. That's good to know. The consultant I saw this morning said I should def take this week off and then see how I'm feeling re doing a quiet couple more weeks at work if I want to.

I'm out now- phew. I thought my house was hot but that hospital was something else! I suppose tiny babies need heat but it really seemed furnace like at times. Anyway, home for a rest now and lots of hoping that the bleeding doesn't start up again.

Sympathies to everyone feeling the heat. But keep those babies cooking as long as you possibly can, ready. There were a couple of tiny babies on my ward and goodness gestation age makes a differencnce to babies being able to regulate their own temp and breathe better. One tiny cutie was whisked away to SCBU just this morning whereas the other, only 2 weeks older was doing just fine. Every day/week they stay in makes a difference.

Becksy- your nephew sounds adorable, btw.

Morning all, sympathies to all suffering with the heat and general massiveness - I am feeling it too. Decided walking home from work would be better than a stinking hot bus or the tube. Took me well over an hour and had massive hobbit like feet at the end of it. Actually think being at work in the air conditioning is a good thing at the moment.

Still haven't packed a hospital bag or got anything ready, did do an all day NHS class the other week which was pretty good.

I have a question I would like your opinion on. I originally thought I was due July 29th from LMP date which I am sure of, this was adjusted at my scan to 20th August. I would like to go visit my family and friends in Yorkshire when I go on maternity leave (24th July) for a week. This is about a 3 1/2 hour round trip. Am I crazy to consider this as it is right when I thought I was due originally and only 4 weeks from adjusted due date? DH would not come with me as he has to work - and I would really like to have the baby here not up there accidentally! Do you think it is just too close?

And ScummyMummy glad to hear you are home - put those feet up as much as possible.

scummymummy I know what you mean, I feel so guilty for wishing them out early

Glad the bleeding has stopped and keeping my fingers crossed that it doesnt start again x

Definately consider starting your maternity leave asap because it sounds like thats what your body is telling you.

Oh please don't feel guilty- good grief it's so hot that I can only imagine how hot and big you're feeling with twins! My twins were spring babies so I missed being massive in the heat. No heatwave either as I recall! Having this singleton makes me realise how very very huge I was with the boys.

That's a hard one, quix. I think if you did go you'd need to be prepared to use the services up there. I would have said just go before this scare I've just had but I am SO glad it happened here and not in Cardiff (I was through visiting my sister at the weekend and started bleeding when i got home on Sunday so there was only hours in it!). Could your family come to you or would it just not be the same?

I have two friends who just had babies who I would love to visit, and my Mum has space for me to stay whereas we only have a 1 bed flat so it would be a squash for them to come here. I think they would rather save their time off to come visit when the baby arrives.

Scummymummy I keep forgetting you are a twin mummy too! How far gone were you when you had them? Did you have a natural labour?
Sorry for all the questions

quixotic How is your pregnancy going? I think that would be a big factor in the decision. Is this your 1st?
If you did go make sure you took a hospital bag and your pg notes and be prepared to use the local hospital.
With DS I did a 3 hour train journey at 33 weeks with no problems so it really depends on you and how you feel x

Ready- I'm not sure you'll like my answers- I was nearly 42 weeks when my twins arrived! I had to be induced and had an emergency c section in the end but I think your chances of delivering naturally are much higher than mine as they are not your first babies.

While I was in hospital I was thinking how bloody ironic it is that I spent the whole of that pregnancy with people telling me there was no way I'd go past 36 weeks and then the wee blighters wouldn't budge for love nor money until they induced me v late on. Whereas this time with a singleton, which has been treated as a super low risk pregnancy, there has been a premature labour scare. Go figure!

Quix- I would go, if I were you. Sounds lovely and relaxing seeing your mates and family.B ut I would have in the back of my mind a plan to get dh up there asap and work out where your local maternity hospital would be if you don't already know just to be extra safe.

Scummymummy I know a couple of other twin mums who have gone overdue and the thought has crossed my mind as I was 41+1 with DS
It certainly is ironic that you have had a threat of prem labour this time after being so late with your twins

It certainly goes to show that pregnancy isnt straight forward lol