Due January 2019 (3rd thread)

[Buttercup53]

Starting a new thread for the January 2019 crew! Newcomers welcome :)

35+1 and still feeling movement but not so much kicking more arms and legs moving, should this be checked out? I'm going to try having a lay down but I'm shattered I can imagine if I lie down I will probably nod off to sleep, lol! Been a busy morning as well playgroup and took the kids and my mum for a meal.

Hope everyone well xx

Been for check up and everything fine x

@ruthieruthuk only just seen this, glad everything is ok. I’m 35 weeks and my movement has kind of changed too, it’s still in pattern but different movement like you have said. Definitely more arms and legs than baby wrigging as such now x

Good stuff @ruthieruthuk and glad you have a plan in place @tadda.

My lower belly itches so so much it is KILLING ME. I’m trying desperately hard not to scratch it because that is where the stretch marks have appeared and I don’t want to make them worse. Any tried and tested anti itching methods?? I read someone that raw potatoe slices were supposed to help!

Slowly coming to terms with the fact that my stomach is never going to be the same again. I mistakenly thought my belly fat would prevent the stretch marks lol!

@Pelly8 have you spoken to Midwife about the itching? Not meaning on scaring you like but it can be a sign of liver issues I think, I could be wrong but it may be worth giving them a call if it's really bad?

@harrypotterfan1604 not just me then, still feeling movements just not as many kicks, but check up all good so that's a relief! I think it's just a case they are getting big this stage, more crampt, etc.. but if in doubt always best to get checked out!

Has anyone suffered from Braxton hicks yet? Practice contractions, etc? I seem to be getting them all the time now and I'm feeling pretty off colour a lot too, sickness, diarrhoea, heartburn, etc.. I mentioned it at the hospital and they said if gets more painful and more consistent then to get in touch again.

Finding I can pretty much do sod all now as suffering from leg cramps, sciatica and SPD, feeling pretty rotten some days! Meant to be going to sundown adventureland theme park this Sunday in Nottingham with a social group we are involved in with the kids but I'm seriously considering just letting my mum and hubby go, as there will be a lot of walking involved and I'm already suffering so I can't imagine I'm going to find it easy but I'm going to see how I feel Saturday/Sunday morning and decide, I feel rubbish as would of liked to have gone as well but it kind of scares me as it's like 60mile from home and with it being my 5th baby it worries me she is going to make an early appearance esp with these pains, etc.. Not really sure what to do..

Pelly8 I had a really itchy belly for a while, but moisturiser really helps. I am mainly using www.escentual.com/skincare/baby/mustelamaternite007/ but the childs farm lotion is also pretty good: www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/childs-farm-moisturiser-grapefruit-organic-tea-tree-oil/600293-351344-351345

I don't have stretch marks (I think, I can't really see my lower belly anymore), but the skin does feel really tight and dry, which makes me really itchy if I don't moisturise.

If it is really bad, you should mention it to your midwife/GP.

ruthieruthuk I'm sorry you're not feeling well. It sounds like you could do with a rest and not to have to walk around a whole lot over the weekend. Please look after yourself :)

Hey Guys, sorry totally lost track of this thread. Can you believe we're due next month
How's everyone doing? How organised are you all, has anyone packed their hospital bag?

Hi everyone, I have now packed my hospital bag @Merrz ! I have my section booked in for mid Jan but thought I should also have an emergency bag packed just in case!

I'm down to part time at work now for the next three weeks and then I finish completely, so I'm trying to get organised. I think we have either bought or ordered everything now other than a baby monitor, still can't decide which one to get, any ideas?

I've also started washing the baby's clothes, seeing all the tiny things hanging out to dry is making it all quite real! Hope everyone is doing well x

Oh are you booked for a section @SuperVeggie I went shopping at the weekend and bought nappys/wipes, toiletries etc for my hospital bag very exciting getting all the little last minute things. I feel like i either have too much of some things and not enough of others but i figure as long's i have enough to get us through the 1st week or so i can buy after that
3 weeks left to work here too, i'm so ready to finish now, my nesting has definitely kicked in and i have lost all interest in work, just want to be at home getting organised

Hi :) I’ve had my hospital bag packed for a couple of weeks now I’m 35+3 just needing to add a nursing bra to it really.
I finished work a while ago due to SPD so I’ve had plenty of time for organising, nesting happened for me a few weeks ago but now I’m back to being a total lazy cow 🙈
Everyone says rest now before the baby comes, but I kinda also think how’s the time to get out and about before the baby comes so I think it’s finding that balance.
I thought we’d bought everything we needed but made a list this morning of things left and there’s more on it than I thought. I’m having a baby shower next weekend so I’m holding off buying the extras until after then a few of my friends have been asking would I like a gift or vouchers so despite me insisting neither is necessary I did say vouchers for mothercare would be best so don’t wanna buy anything incase I get some vouchers. It’s too close to Xmas to be spending money if I may get some vouchers.
All my friends that have had babies told me not to buy too many clothes because I’ll end up getting loads but I keep looking at what I’ve got thinking I might need to buy more! Never been an over thinker before but pregnancy really does bring it out in me.

Baby’s engaged now and must admit I’m praying for a pre Christmas delivery. I’m so grumpy and hormonal, I hate everyone around me except my partner who seems to be really understanding and stepping up just recently which is great!

@harrypotter yeah that's a good point, you want to catch up on sleep as much as you can now but on the other hand although we'll all probably be sleep deprived when babies arrive we will probably spend a lot of time sitting around in the house feeding etc so nice to get out and about now.
Yeah good idea to wait and see what you get from your baby shower before you buy anything else. Vouchers are a great idea! That's definitely what i'm going to get for new mums from now on, i always worry Vouchers make it look like you've made no effort but at least you can get what you want/need and saves you landing up with loads of the same thing.
What is your actual due date? I feel like i've been a nightmare to live with this last week or so. I'm obsessed with having everything spotless and DH can't do right for doing wrong if he sits on the sofa it annoys me that he's not doing anything but when he does stuff around the house it annoys me he's making a mess or not doing it right

@Merrz my due date is 4th jan so pre Christmas isn’t unrealistic so I’m really hoping! I’m so fed up being pregnant now. When are you due??
I’ve been having a day out and about then a day at home pjs on and resting trying to balance it out a bit.
I’m really proud of my OH he’s taking all this in his stride and honestly I’ve been pretty horrible to him just recently but he’s really stepping up. Considering he’s always said children were a possibility but not a definite for him and certainly way into the future not right now so he’s doing so well.
Last night I snapped at my MIL, justified I think but perhaps a little OTT. It was because my SIL was there too and she makes my blood boil just recently so I’m always angry around her anyway 🙈

@Merrz I'm the same with my poor DH. He is definitely bearing the brunt of my crazy pregnancy hormones! I'm very up and down at the moment which hasn't been helped by a lot of stress at work. At the weekend I had a paddy about our crib and car seat which are taking ages to be delivered and I got myself in a right state, poor bloke didn't know what to do

@SuperVeggie I have a paddy most days now over something 😂

I've managed to pack my wash bag for my hospital bag, as well as a couple of nursing tops that I don't wear regularly (yet). Everything else - nightwear, long top, jeans and so on, I still wear, so I don't really want to pack it into the bag as I'll miss it (or at least will have to do more laundry).
I do need to buy stuff - nappies, maternity pads and big knickers. I'm waiting for deliveries as well, so once I get them, I'll probably start packing the bag.

I keep feeling like there are months and months to go, so I feel like it's very early to pack, but then I realise my due date is a little over a month away. I really should get on it!

We still haven't sorted the nursery, and I am not in nesting mode - all I want to do is snooze on the sofa, and maybe have a hot chocolate with whipped cream.
Everything is still in boxes, baby clothes in bags, waiting to be washed and put away, but I just don't want to wash everything yet as I want to make sure I have the right place to put it all, rather than leaving it in a pile until we've sorted the room.

This weekend I think we'll sort the Isofix base, so DH doesn't have to struggle with that last minute in the hospital car park.

We have however bought a chest freezer as our current freezer is pretty small, and we've started cooking, portioning and freezing loads of meals which hopefully will make life a bit easier once baby arrives.

We are both working quite a bit still, and have had quite busy weekends recently, so that's another reason why we just don't get a whole lot done.
Hopefully we should be able to start our Christmas holiday a bit earlier than usual, so we might catch up then.

Oh you do have a pre xmas chance @harrypotterfan I'm due 18th January so hoping it holds on until after Xmas/New Year are past. Although i feel like i'm almost getting to the stage of struggling to get comfortable and not sleeping so good etc so i bet another couple weeks and i'll be praying for baby to come any time.
I feel bad for DH but he's been really good, i think he knows i don't mean it!
Same @RiskIt4Biscuit i was feeling like it was far too early to worry about that kind of thing until i had my 1st antenatal class last week and i've been like a woman possessed ever since.
Good work on the batch cooking, we also have a chest freezer and i'm planning to cook a meal a day once i'm on maternity leave to freeze.

We have started the antenatal classes too - I am so surprised how helpful they seem to be.
Saturday was 9.30-16.30, so it was a long day, but we did labour positions, the men were taught some massage techniques (this was fantastic!), talked more general stuff like feeding, bathing, changing.
There are several more to go, but this was the only full day.

I have just been told that it looks like I won't have any work to do until Wednesday, so I should do something useful around the house, but I just cannot be bothered today.

I generally feel really good, but the bump is so heavy to carry around, and my bladder is constantly getting squished, which is really uncomfortable. Baby has figured out that kicking me regularly in the ribs is great fun for him (and not so much for me).
I also had no idea how sensitive a belly button can be

I have just come upstairs with my raspberry leaf tea for a bubble bath....radox muscle soak is my best friend 😍 trying Very much to embrace the maternity leave in one way or another.
I’ve decided not to batch cook, my MIL is off work until 10th jan and my mum off work the following week so they’ll be on hand to do shopping and or cooking if DP can’t. My grandad is very keen to do something helpful too and loves cooking so I’ve suggested he be in charge of feeding us and he’s happy now :) he’s 75 and really keen to help out so I thought cooking was a good way not to strenuous for him.

I’m feeling really impatient now, I’m so ready to have baby here I feel like since 30 weeks it’s been the longest pregnancy ever. Although I’ve had a few wobbles about the birth, I’m suddenly very scared and all my ideas of no epidural unless vital are being trumped by fear of pain. Not so much fear of pain during contractions but I have a terrible fear or tearing and in my head the pain of tearing is horrendous and I can’t seem to shake that.
A friend told me she felt very numb down below as she was pushing and didn’t feel the typical “ring of fire” and she had a labia tear and said she didn’t even know. I just can’t imagine not feeling it! It’s one of the only things I’m scared of 🙈

I was also pleasantly surprised by the Antenatal classes, i didn't think i'd learn anything i didn't already know and was just going for the social aspect really but it's given me a whole new outlook on birth. Also she explained all the aches and pains of pregnancy and labour, what's happening to your body and why, knowing what's going on is helping me deal with it better and i'm hoping will be the same with the labour.
@harrypotter my friend told me the contractions are the worst and if you can cope with the contractions you'll be fine for the actual birth. She said they don't get any worse as labour progresses, they just get longer but a lot of people think they can't cope because it's so painful in the beginning they think they'll never cope with the actual birth but apparently once you get to the actual pushing it out stage it's not that bad.
Aww bless that's nice of your Grandad.

I just remembered, the antenatal teacher mentioned getting tested for Group B Strep during week 35-37.

Is this something you guys are planning on doing? Why/why not?

It seems that the NHS does not offer this test routinely, so it's something we have to get done privately.

I'm planning on asking my midwife for advice on this next time I see her, but I'd love to hear if you have any thoughts on this test?

@RiskIt4Biscuit I am planning on getting the group B strep test, but I'm going to have it a bit earlier because of having the planned section at 38 weeks. I will probably go for 34-35 weeks to give time to get results back. I have a midwife friend and two GP friends and all three have said they would have it done themselves during pregnancy. It is done routinely in other countries and I also know of two people whose babies contracted meningitis from group B strep so for the sake of £30 or whatever it costs I would like to have peace of mind.

Oh and I have also just found out I am anaemic :-( so the docs have put me on iron tablets. However this might apparently explain the painful legs I've been getting at night so hopefully that might improve once I've started taking the tablets!

Oh i didn't know about the Group B Strep testing, i'll ask my midwife too.

On another note, anyone else feeling glad they're having a winter baby, i'm constantly too hot, don't think i could of coped with being this pregnant in summer

Yes to the winter baby thing! I’m so hot all the time now I feel so sorry for those poor summer mums x

Thanks for your replies regarding Group B Strep.
I'll ask my midwife on Wednesday and then order the test unless she tells me specifically not to.

I've just ordered maternity pads, big knickers and breast pads, so at least I have almost everything I need for the hospital bag on the way.

What's your plan with nappies?
Are you going for the supermarket brands (Pampers, own brand and so on) or biodegradable or washable nappies?
How many are you buying and in which size/sizes? I assume we are expected to bring them to hospital?

Also, how much baby clothes are we supposed to bring?

I have a mix of Aldi nappies and pampers bought by my mum and nana. I have 3 packs of first size up to 11lb and a couple of the next size too. I’ve packed 12 nappies into my hospital bag.
I have taken 3 outfits for baby one is intended to be a coming home outfit. No idea if that’s the right amount but if we need extra in laws will bring it in.