Am I looking after my bump?!

[stripeybumpinthenight]

I don't know if I'm just being weird, or overly paranoid. I try to eat well, rest lots and sleep on my left side. But I can't help feeling I'm damaging my baby

I get the bus to work and can't sit comfortably. If I bend to put my socks on, my bump hurts - have I squished him? If I spend ages on my feet, my bump aches. I'm a teacher and lost my temper with a student and shouted - baby went crazy super active for about an hour. I keep sleeping on my back as my back aches. I sometimes binge on junk food like pizza. I'm even worrying about curling up and him getting squashed.

Oh my God, I'm actually going mad. Please tell me I'm not damaging my baby?! It's so hard. I'm 31 weeks and not finishing work til 37 wks, and all I want to do is lie on my left side on the sofa and eat healthy food for the rest of my pregnancy!

Apologies for stream-of-consciousness rant

Your doing fine! Its a slightly odd thing when you expand your body to become a nest for a new little person - hence not feeling comfortable, but despite the weirdness, everything you describe is "normal" (if such a thing exists) for carrying a new little human being inside you. If you can possibly (roll up any holiday?) take off extra time before baby arrives, you will appreciate it. If you can't just start ticking off days - six weeks will go by quickly. Promise! ;-)

Nah - you are fine! At 37 weeks I was admitted to hospital due to unstable lie. Dh's job was to bring me Maccy D's and Sweet n Sour King Prawn balls as I was starving and food on the Maternity wing just didn't do it! Before that I used to get up at 4am, drink tea and watch the midwife programmes.

You are not damaging your baby. Eat what you fancy. Get a big pillow to put under your bump/

I had exactly the same fears stripey, especially about squashing the baby. As the bump now sticks out, I'd catch or bang it on things, or squash it when getting things off the floor or rolling over, and be convinced that I'd now have a pancake-head baby.

We're in the same position- I'm 31 wks and finishing around 37/8 wks- re lengthy work and getting there on public transport too.

But but but- you are NOT harming your baby in any way. You say you're eating and sleeping well, and even if you were an insomniac Mc D's muncher the baby would be fine. As long as you're eating (something) and not guzzling vodka and fags, there is nothing you're doing that could possibly harm sprog.

Hope you feel better this morning!

Thank you for lovely reassuring posts

It is just so hard - I know that staying fit and active is the best thing for me to prepare for labour, not put too much weight on, faster recovery etc, but all I want to do is protect it by being very static and staying at home!

I haven't been taking my pg vitamins either since they made me really sick in the first trimester.

I know there is little evidence to suggest the mother's diet and activity affects the child, but I have always thought you are what you eat. If I don't drink enough water or get enough sleep, it's immediately visible in my face and energy levels. It must be affecting my tiny baby 10x as much - if I'm shattered, aching, bloated and dehydrated then how must a teeny developing baby be?

I want to win the lottery and have a personal midwife nutritionist and doula attend to my every need from now until the birth

I'm one of the ghosts Isis sufferers, I couldn't eat at all and like most sufferers what I could eat would've made Gillian McKeith weep. Yet out popped to healthy dc's.

Relax, your body is made to deal with this even if your brain isn't

Auto correct

Ghost Isis would be hyperemisis

OP you can be sure that your baby is taking everything it needs from you, that is why most pregnant women feel wretched all the time- the baby is taking all the nutrients. Is your wee ok when you get it checked by the MW?

if you are concerned about what your eating/drinking, try this--

Breakfast- Have a big fruit/yogurt smoothie- gets lots of frozen berries from the frozen food section of supermarket, blend with organic yogurt of choice. Then have what you would normally have on top. have a glass of fruit juice too. You have already has 2/3 of your 5/day

Drink water with a straw- you take more in with a straw for some reason.

Go see your midwife if you are worried, but it sounds like everything is normal.

I took mat leave early-34 weeks as I was shattered. best thing I ever did.

I want that fruit smoothie now, it sounds lush!

It's not just food though

It's getting a stitch every time I walk further than 10 metres - WTF is that about? And seriously, how can I put my socks and tights on without jerking and squashing my bump? These are stupid things that when the midwife says 'are you feeling generally ok?' in a type way, I just don't feel able to ask without her eyerolling.

YOU feel rubbish BECAUSE the baby is catered for first. Don't worry please. I burnt my bump with the iron, scraped it, knocked it etc. They're cushioned so well in there, I promise you make him nothing but happy. He already loves you like nothing else.

I think you should book a double app with your MW and talk through your concerns so you dont feel like this.

Honestly--SoH is right, your bump is very well cushioned and baby is fine.

Oh god Showy, how quickly you forget. I ironed my bump every damn time I did a bloody basket of ironing!

see, if you feel shit, it's because the baby's leeching you- leeching you, i tell you.
So it's all fine.
I haven't taken my vitamins either, for ages, but my last blood test showed low iron (that was 4 weeks ago fgs! it could be loads different now!!), so I've started taking them again.

that bump is bloody uncomfortable - it lolls around everywhere and feels like my skin is being ripped open every time I lie on my side.
yes, I feel more comfortable in bed when I'm on my back.
can't bend without considerable discomfort.
I'm 34 weeks.
I believe it's "normal"

See, I don't iron so I'm fine there.

I don't want to talk to midwife... I've seen someone different every time and they all seem so disinterested. They're not counsellors, they're not paid for me to rant at, it's pee, blood, poke the bump and out.

I just needed a rant really and to hear from other people who feel the same, so thank you all. All we can do is look after ourselves as best we can. Apparently in Victorian days you were bed-rested for the whole 9 months!

no you weren't - you would have been expected to act as normal until your last trimester.

yes, don't iron - that could be catastrophic.

Oh oops - I got that nugget from another MN thread!

Will take care to avoid irons even more than normal

someone on MN isn't entirely correct!

don't worry, i'm sure rich victorian ladies were encouraged to keep themselves hidden relax.

Don't beat yourself up over it- think of all the scuzzy people on Jeremy Kyle who have completely crappy lifestyles and still pop out healthy babies. Teaching is bloody hard work and being pregnant makes it even harder- cut yourself some slack lady! The bump is fine and perfectly well cushioned in there despite sock putting-on and bus journeys. It's just our insides that feel squished! xxx

nickel, didn't realise you were pg congratulations

only 34 weeks, so don't worry, lots of people have mssed it

thank you for your congrats :)

That's what I like about mnet though, you get to be anperson not a walking hormone, as people can't see you

OP....women have babies in war torn, famine stricken earthquake zones. You'll be fine.. Step away from google and listen to your body.. It knows best.