36 weeks anyone?

[pancakes22]

Hi everyone, how's everything feeling 36 weeks?

Kicks are bizarre right the way round my side but also getting low pains so hoping he is still head down.
Trapped wind pains I think round front and back
I think I'm also getting Braxton hicks but low down tightening rather than whole stomach
Dodgy tummy
Feeling so emotional with surge of hormones and wanting to cry at everything
Feeling also a bit manic with some small bursts of cleaning before just lying on sofa
Feeling generally bit more panicky about the whole baby going to be hear soon not to mention the birth!

Does this all sound normal?!

Do you finish work this week Lauren? Booking DS into nursery sounds like a genius idea! He’ll have a lovely day and hopefully you can get some bits done.

Not feeling great today. Was awake between 3 and 6 with horrible cramps. They seem to have subsided though. But now I’m feeling really nauseous. I assume these are all signs that something is happening, but what that something is I don’t know! Luckily have MW later. 38 weeks today 😬

Capybaras From what I understand a lot of the positioning comes down to gravity, so sitting forward, sitting on ball. Maybe swimming will help?

Oh wow that's exciting @curiositycreature definitely sounds like something is happening - let us know how you get on with the midwife.

Yeah unfortunately I have a desk job so lots of sitting A trying to lean forward more though and finish this week so will try and get swimming to get baby to turn!

Curiosity You might be first out of us all then! Hope you are feeling a little better and that the midwife went ok.

I finish work next week on Thursday so have 3 days at home then the section, feel guilty putting DS in nursery for an extra day but just had a nap and it was great Going to tackle more housework now

Well I decided to burst into tears on the midwife! I honestly thought I was fine. I’m really anxious not knowing when I’ll go into labour. She was so lovely though, definitely reassured me. All the changes in my body could literally mean anything apparently. But she did say his head is very engaged so she did say I may not make it to my due date. Two weeks today! We’ll see! I’m going to focus on calming down. Envious of all you ladies with elective CS now! 😂

@curiositycreature I literally came on here to say the same thing! I'm feeling really panicked about natural birth now and after spending so much time fighting to have a VBAC and now thinking oh blimey I should have just elected. I don't know if it's all the emotions and hormones but just feel so anxious about everything. I'm so pleased your midwives have reassured you.

I currently have a urine infection so all the pains I was getting I think is due to that rather than any early labour signs. Very sore and tired right now!

@Lauren83 don't feel guilty at all for putting into nursery, my DD still goes in 2 days a week and I'm going to continue that when baby arrives too. Totally with you on it being hard with a toddler. My little one is very tired today and refusing to nap and instead having lots of kicky tantrums that I really don't have the patience for!!

@pancakes22 I was so scared of labour but I've been watching hypnobirthing videos on the Positive Birthing Company and it's made me so much more confident - definitely worth a look.

I'm now 36+6 and found out at a presentation scan today estimated baby weight is 7lb! Gah. Really hope I don't go to 42 weeks.

@pancakes22 sorry to hear about the water infection they are horrible even when you aren't pregnant. Luckily DS loves nursery so I soon got over the guilt, if it wasn't £52 a day I would send him more often, he only goes Thursdays usually as my mum helps us the other days and I work Saturdays so DP is home then. He was up last night 11pm-12.30am and then up for the day at 4.45am Was a struggle in work today but luckily everyone's understanding and I'm on wind down now, only 4 more days left in work....

How's everyone getting on? I'm 37+2 today! Had my midwife appointment yesterday and she felt my belly and thought baby was breech so sent me the hospital for a presentation scan and everything was fine! Baby is head down :-) Got a bit emotional on the way there as have my heart set on a water birth!

@Kelis22 great news about baby turning! Also have my heart set on a water birth but due to the GD need to wait for consultant to give go ahead. 37+1 today and just waiting on growth scan Friday to see where I stand with everything! Feeling very tired and irritable still eugh

Thanks @Moses92 :-) I hope it all goes well for you and you can have your water birth. Is this your first?
Aw not long now! I'm the same can't make it through the days now without a power nap lol!

Yep this is my first, hoping he won't leave me waiting too much longer

How's everyone doing? Finished work today at 36+2. Could have gone on longer but so glad I didn't. Can't wait to have a bit of time now to potter about and enjoy some me time before baby gets here.

Braxton hicks are happening every time I do anything vaguely active but hoping baby is cosy for at least a few more weeks.

Glad you have finished Capy I just have Sat/Mon/Thu left then I'm done, have my pre op next week on Friday for the ELCS so should hopefully find out where I am on the theatre list for the Monday, hoping it's morning so I'm not waiting around getting nervous. I'm 37.5 today and not much to report for now, midwife on Monday

Oh not long for you then @Lauren83 is it usually around the 39 week mark they do the c-section?

I'm not seeing my midwife for another 2 weeks (MW only available every fortnight). Feel like quite a long wait especially as I saw her 2 weeks ago and were so close to the end.

Capy my community one is only every 2 weeks, I see her at my GP surgery near Stockport but as I'm giving birth 'out of the area' at St Marys Manchester I'm under their midwives too although haven't seen them since my Anti D injection, the sections booked for 39.1, hoping I don't start myself before then! DS was 9lbs at 38.3 so I'm interested to see how big this one is.

You all sorted now? I still have things around the house I could do but I have zero energy so doubt I will bother now

I've just been for midwife appt today I'm 38+5 and have been told baby isn't engaged in the slightest not even on the brim although she is head down! Quite disheartened as it's making me worry she is going to take ages to come with encouraging via sweeps or induction. Fingers crossed she engages soon and gets ready to come out naturally!

@Bjones123 I've heard engagement is a bit misleading - they can be engaged early and come late, or it can all happen in the space of days! Don't feel disheartened! Lots of walking and medicine ball, and fingers crossed!

My midwife told me on Friday that I was “very engaged” and not to expect to reach my due date (25th) so I got all excited. Then my friend said “oh yes I was fully engaged just before Christmas” ....she had her baby on the 8th Jan! So apparently it does mean naff all!! Am sure with some bouncing on the ball and walks around the block she’ll be ready in no time Bjones 🤞🏻

I’m so freaking excited now! Crapping myself of course, as is DH but still predominantly excited!

@Bjones123 My baby's been engaged since 35 weeks but the midwife told me it means nothing, as some baby's will engage and then come out several times before labour. So try not to be too disheartened.

@Lauren83 first day of mat leave and I've been out all day with friends! So don't literally none of the sorting I need to do. Will try and pack hospital bag tomorrow as it's maybe time to get sorted! Otherwise hoping the nesting instinct will kick in soon so the house gets tidied. Oh and batch cooking - so not much...

What about you?

@RMarieClaire lets hope so! The midwife has suggested some movements to try to get he engaged, mostly squatting and wriggling hips.

@curiositycreature I know it's just an estimate and the midwife did say some babies don't engage until you go into labour, but then she did discuss concerns about waters breaking before engagement and cord prolapse etc

@capybaras well hopefully they all arrive within a reasonable timeframe! I'm definitely ready for her to arrive now and the midwife has said at my next appointment (she's kindly booked me in at 40+1 rather than in two weeks where I'd be 40+5) they will offer me a sweep if she is engaged and I want to go for that option.

@Kelis22 the same thing happened to me with midwife thinking breech but scab all okay. She keeps getting confused with his bum vs head! So pleased head down, I felt really emotional too when she said he was all in position ready to go. I would love the have a water birth. Never thought it was possible with a VBAC but feel very lucky the guidelines have changed just in time so they have said I can give it a go!

@Lauren83 it must be so strange and also lovely knowing the date that your little one will be arriving! It's the waiting game that's driving me crazy so I can definitely see the appeal in that! Good luck for Monday. How are you spending your last day tomorrow before babe arrives?

Has anyone paid to have the Group Strep B test thing done?

Aw that's great @pancakes22 hope all goes well for you and you can have a natural birth this time round! Midwife said to me when you have good stomach muscles they can't always be 100% right when they examine you. They have you worrying over nothing sometimes lol! And I haven't had the group B strep test I thought they just do it on the day?? My sister had it when she went into labour and the just gave her an antibiotic tablet.

I haven't really read into group b strep - I assumed they'd test you for it when you go into labour, is this not the case?
On another note I Feel like I'm leaking less colostrum now than I was weeks and weeks ago. Hope it ramps up again in preparation for baby. Also came to the realisation that I potentially have another 5 weeks of pregnancy if baby is late (36+5 at the moment) which seems like forever!

Ah I heard they don't test of NHS. I should probably do some research as this is only based on hearing something on this morning tv!!

Sitting here full of pizza and pudding just thinking how bizarre it is that any moment I could potentially go into labour, or not! It's just so strange thinking how your life is going to change starting with that one twinge all of a sudden and have no idea when! 38 weeks today. Knowing my luck il say this now and end up waiting for another 4 weeks with a section instead!