Due March 2019

[Bozley47]

I'm 10-11DPO and just had BFP on a digital. I know it's incredibly early but looking at a due date March 3rd 2019!

My period is now a week late!! I've done a load of pt too so I know why but I keep thinking it will just come. I've had a few irregular cycles but it's never been a week over 31 days before - hurrah!

yay! @pushit @Bozley47 it's getting real! I think I'll let myself POAS on Friday (5 weeks) to see if there's a difference in the line. Then no more.

Gratified to wake up feeling really sick today after rude health yesterday. Had bizarro stress dreams - first that OH and I got into a physical fight (!) which included him briefly throttling me (!), then that the slow lane of the pool was full of huge muscly men doing butterfly and not even keeping to the right side. Guess which one upset me more.

@ladycarlotta there's nothing worse than sharing a lane 😂

DARN RIGHT! The medium and fast lanes at my local pool are all over the shop - men who judge themselves to be 'fast' swimmers but who are in fact just noisy splashy ones hogging the fast lane; women who are too quick and athletic really to be in the medium lane but holding back from stepping up to the fast lane. Seems a bit extreme to have a nightmare about it though.

@frankiefumbles @Emmafh3 You're right, sod what they think. Staying active and healthy is what's important. This heat is too hot for me right now so been staying away from the gym to avoid migraines but next week I'm back on it 🏃🏻‍♀️

@Bozley47 That will work in your favour as if you're scanned too early they just have to ask you to come back so they can do the measurements and then you get to see baby twice!

@pushit I keep expecting my period to arrive too! Still checking every time I go to the loo and I don't leave the house without some back up pads 🙈 My longest ever cycle was 34 days which was yesterday! Based on my LMP I am 5 weeks tomorrow. Maybe I'll start believing it outside of the 4 weeks!

@ladycarlotta Haha your dreams! I've been having weird ones too like my parents having mice in their house that bite. Last night I woke up at 2:30am with an annoying song stuck on repeat in my head. Then again at 5am. Don't seem to be sleeping much recently but that could also be the heat.

@Bozley47 if they want to use LMP then I'm 5+3 so fine suits me if they want to!

But hopefully this means they can schedule me for a scan at '13' weeks as I'd really like to see there's still at heartbeat at 12 before telling everyone

@RedRobin7 they make you come back? Oh that's good didn't know that

@hamandpease Yes I knew someone on one of these boards who wasn't as far along as they thought so they couldn't do the measurements so she got to go back a couple of weeks later!

I have a new symptom now, lower back pain. I wasn't sure if this was a pregnancy symptom but google tells me it's the ligaments stretching out. Whatever it is, it's really uncomfortable and it's definitely not helping me sleep! I was in bed by 9:30 last night, awake at 11, back to sleep at 1 and then just on and off until 5am.. I feel my body is trying to get used to having broken sleep.

Just reading everybody's s messages @mostimproved made me laugh. I thought the same thing with my first....and then I had a newborn 🙈
And all the swim talk makes me jealous!

But made me remember (along with the back pain) to encourage anybody who will listen to strengthen their core and back as much as possible and to do those pelvic floor exercises starting asap! 😊

@Emmafh3 pelvic floor exercises...? Oh jeez. I'm already concerned this will ruin the hoohah 😂😂 what should I be squeezing?

Get in the pool!!!!! Go at the end of the day if you can, in the last 1h30 of opening very few people use the pool. No one will judge if you want a splash around.

I'm waking up super early which I'm not happy about. Not as nauseous today thank goodness. Yesterday was grim.

@RedRobin I brace myself every time I have a wee in case the dreaded period appears. Hopefully I'll feel more settled in a few weeks time.

@frankiefumbles @Emmafh3 I think I've got the pelvic floor exercises sorted but how do I strengthen my core and my back?! I'm still so unfit and not very flexible despite going to the gym. I can't even touch my toes 🙈 I only learnt to swim 6 years ago and I'm not very confident but I plan on getting in the pool soon just as I know it's good for pregnancy!

Has anyone been reading the guest post re post partum pain?!

It's genuinely got me googling private midwifery services (which is not something I was intending to consider pay for )

@hamandpease I haven't seen it. What does it say? Why would a private midwife be any better?

Ah I've just seen it. My pain lasted 6weeks at least after my lg, but the hospital were pretty hot on bringing me pain meds while I was there. First visits to the toilet are arduous and scary after childbirth esp if you have tear or cut. I remember thinking this is the word pain/trauma I've ever experienced, and at the same time I've suddenly got to take of a tiny baby - who screams when I put her down. I remember being told to shower after every wee and kept soaking my surgical stockings because I didn't realise I could take them off 🤣 plus getting on and off the bed was horrible with the pain. Lots of baths and arnica helped.
I don't mean to scare anyone but I think it's good to know the reality.

I don't know why there is so much silence about the realities of what labour does to you. A couple of my friends have spoken about it, but honestly - it sounds so frightening and stressful to have to deal with an absolutely fucked body PLUS a newborn PLUS potentially a less-than-ideal birth experience. It's massive. If this had come about in any other circumstances, we'd be talking about it I'm sure.

I really don't feel prepared for all that side of things, and although academically I feel fine about labour, it's also bloody scary. But perhaps now I am pg I've passed a secret initiation and all my mates will now tell me exactly what to expect.

@frankiefumbles you're hoo-ha won't be totally destroyed, but it will need a little tlc and patience now and after to keep it tip top! 😉

@redrobin7 there are loads of YouTube vids for prenatal ab and back exercises. A really simple and effect one is being on all fours and then raising your opposite arm and leg (left arm and right leg then vice versa) so that they are parallel to the floor and sucking that tummy in, hold then release. Can kill me and I do pilates, yoga, hiit and cardio....

@hamandpease i think some sort of post partum pain is normal. I mean there is a lot of stretching and all sorts going on. But I think it's not something to worry about until it occurs. I don't think there is anything in particular that a health care provider can change(if they are doing their job right in the first place)

It is good to be aware like @pushit said, but it's also good to know there are a lot of great stories out there!
I was in labour (early stages small contraction!) from 6am, drove to the shops, walked the dogs, cooked a Sunday roast, had a nap, got more intense and started to think it might be something more than braxtons at about 11pm, waters broke at 12. Got to hospital at 1.30am got checked for 4cm, had a sweep, gave birth with no problems at 3am (only a small laceration no tears)
Had heard all the horror stories of weeing and pooping so was terrified of that but it was just like normal except a little sore.
Sorry for the essay!

That's all really helpful info @Emmafh3

@ladycarlotta the great thing is we've got this little support network going and ultimately we are all in the same game together and share the experiences. With any luck we will all still be here and move on to the post partum board as The Marchers 🤗

Hi all
Can I join your thread? I am due on 3 March. This is my second pregnancy. I have 9m old DS. Anyone else on here with their second pregnancy? I am definitely feeling symptoms particularly cramping earlier this time!

My DD’s birth was not straightforward and for the sake of my pelvic floor plus others reasons I think if all goes well with this pregnancy my gp will encourage me to have an elective CS. Don’t want to scare those who are on a first pregnancy by talking about it though!! But yes do pelvic floor exercises now and don’t come up with a perfect birth plan because in my opinion a perfect birth plan results in both Mum and baby leaving the hospital alive and relatively well never mind what had to happen to result in that happening!! X

@Emmafh3 that exercise sounds like it requires a lot of balance, I can imagine myself toppling over 😂

Re the post partum pain, I totally agree this should be better managed which starts by actually talking about it! If they spent some time at NCT classes talking about what's normal and what isn't and how to push for the right support/painkillers, rather than getting you to put a nappy on a doll, it might actually have been money well spent! I found the hospital antenatal classes did at least go into a lot more detail about instrumental deliveries, episiotomies, induction, c section etc which I found helpful rather than just talking about water births etc.

Got my booking appointment in the post today for 23rd July and scan appointment for 17th August - now it seems so real, I feel like I don't want to let them down!

@Almondbiscotti Welcome to the March gang 😊

@Emmafh3 Thanks! I will have a look on YouTube. I don't have very good balance either!

Hi everyone.

Can I join your thread?

I'm a long time lurker but first time poster, having just tested positive yesterday for baby number 1.

I am feeling much less prepared than you all seem to be, and frankly pretty terrified! I am hoping to gain some wisdom from you lovely ladies.

I have booked an appointment with my GP for 6 July and will hope to be a little more informed by then!

@Almondbiscotti Hi, this will be my second baby too. First is currently 2yrs 7m so will be just over 3 when baby is due.

welcome @almondbiscotti and @firsttimenerves. First Time, I don't know about anyone else but I am comprehensively winging it. Have thought about pregnancy for so long, but now it's happening I have a billion questions and uncertainties. I think the first thing I did when I got my BFP was buy two books: Expecting Better by Emily Oster (which is really good at digesting and explaining all the statistics behind pregnancy advice), and How To Grow A Baby and Push It Out by Clemmie Hooper (she is a midwife and mum, and the book is full of colour and pictures and is easy to understand), which in combination have made me feel much more confident and in control. There are probably loads of books out there that will do roughly the same thing, so if that feels like your speed then pick up a few. Everyone here has been really great too. Glad to have you with us!

@frankiefumbles love the idea of The Marchers post-partum! I am so grateful for this little network we have.