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?!

I'm personally not going for a sweep but I think it's a personal decision and works for some, doesn't for others.

For me, I'm just trying to avoid intervention because of how my birth went last time and I've heard with sweeps it can stimulate things when they are maybe not ready yet eg if they try and start labour before babe is ready then it can lead to not dilating/needing to induce/cause your cervix to tense up from the irritation etc etc. If it works because your body is ready to start then the argument could be your body was going to start anyway.

My plan is to try and go without one and then when they start talking about inducing at 40+10 I will have a sweep at that point (because I would be going down that induction route anyway so nothing to lose) and if it doesn't work then I'm not sure whether I will elect for section instead.

Oh really good info pancakes thank you! I’ll see if I can get some other opinions.

My best friend is getting married 18 days past my due date so I’ve got some decisions to make if he doesn’t arrive on time. Getting him out safely is my priority (of course!!) but I’m acutely aware that the older he is the more I chance I have of attending some of her wedding! I don’t even care if I go unshowered in my PJs 😂

@curiositycreature I went to a family birthday party when DD was 2 weeks old and a wedding when she was 4 weeks old and actually having them young is a bit easier because it's purely just a matter of feeding and sleeping! It always amazes me how much newborns sleep so I reckon it comes down more to your recovery and how you feel. I think as long as you can be guaranteed a chair and are comfortable feeding then you will be absolutely fine and babe will probably just sleep the whole way through the wedding! You may need to wear a sign saying hands off my baby though as everyone will be wanting cuddles! Haha!

@Kelis22 sorry can't figure out how to link so attached the sheets in pics!

I've only just turned 37 weeks today so a bit behind all of you! Starting to get the odd shooting pain down the back of my thigh/sometimes my foof - is this fanny daggers? (Love the name!)

Did a big food shop today for batch cooking and could definitely feel the waddle coming on! Exhausted now though so been lying on the sofa after putting everything away. Need to take the dog out too but he'll have to wait!

These are for the Chicco next2me

Oops posted too soon - and fit really well! I begrudged paying £20 for 2 'official sheets'

Thanks @Capybaras I will order some tonight! I begrudged paying it aswell lol just for sheets.

Has anyone else had problems on the growth chart? I have had a different community midwife at every appointment and my chart is measuring on 50th percentile and just above 10th percentile so is not matching up. Sending me for a growth scan this week to see if she is under or average weight and maybe an early sweep before dd.

@RMarieClaire did any of your symptoms mean anything? Back pain, cramps, lost a bit of mucus plug? All sounded like something was happening!!

Any updates @RMarieClaire

How's everyone else doing? I feel completely normal (apart from being pregnant!). Having a pampering session today - getting my haircut and a massage!

I'm still here as well, only 38+1 but feeling majorly overdue just because of the amount of braxton hicks, plug appearances and regenerations and other false alarms!

Same here mawof3soontobe (except the plug!) SO MANY POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS! I genuinely thought I was in labour last night. BH were quite painful and regular over a couple of hours. Woken up this morning and nothing.

Jealous of your day Capy... I got given a voucher for a massage for my birthday but haven’t actually used it. Was way too worried about going into labour during 😂 which is ridiculous. But now the more pregnant I am the less I want to make plans.

@curiositycreature so did I!!! The pressure on my cervix was ridiculous and it genuinely hurt to bounce on the birthing ball, I thought it was really happening. You'd think I'd know now I'm on number three lol

I'm completely the same ladies. Woke up last night with tight band all round front and back and really thought that was it as it felt too painful for Braxton but it went off and fine for rest of day! Thought I may have lost a bit of plug this morning but doubting it now and perhaps heavy discharge instead. Off for reflexology this morning for a boost of oxytocin!

Was there a full moon or something last night?!

I’m sure your plug would be obvious so if you think you did then it’s possible a bit came out?

I had a pregnancy massage when I was 35 weeks and was worried that would kick start labour, but now would be more than happy!

Annoyingly DH has just got a cold and now I've started sneezing - really hope we don't have colds when baby decides to make an appearance.

Reflexology sounds great @pancakes22 I may see if I can get it done next week.

That's exciting everyone's starting to get signs, even if labour isn't imminent it sounds like things are getting moving. Every time I go to the loo I'm checking the paper for mucus plug but nothing yet! Still getting the occasional twinge which makes me stop and think something is happening but it clearly isn't!

I'm trying to cram in everything in the next week or so in terms of socialising as I can see me nesting like you @curiositycreature when I get a bit further along.

Took the dog for a walk down a beach with no signal which is quite rural yesterday not even thinking that I'm 37+2 and hadn't told anyone where I was going! DH wasn't happy. May stick to more well-trodden routes now

It actually was the last night of a full moon last night now you mention it! How strange

No signs of baby arriving here yet, 39+4 and would really like her to arrive. My anxiety about her movements is quite bad today so I'm trying not to get myself worked up about it as it doesn't do me or my partner any good! But it's easier said than done.

Just want her to arrive safe and well now

If you're worried about baby's movements it's definitely worth getting checked out to put your mind at rest. That's what the midwives are there for, to reassure you.

I woke up worrying about movements as I woke up on my back (not sure how long I'd been that way) and baby didn't do his usual kicks/wriggles after I went for a wee. He did kickoff when I had some water about 15 minutes later though and all good now, but it's horrible that thought of 'oh god is something wrong'. Def get checked if you're worried!

I just get very bad anxiety with it all. I've been to the hospital 3 times for reduced movements, then monitored daily for 3 days and had a scan to check everything was okay in a bid to give me reassurance which was working, but as it's getting nearer I'm just getting all my catastrophising thoughts of what could go wrong and how I'd have to tell people.

Don't know how I'm going to cope if she is really overdue as I will worry even more!

Also one of my issues throughout has been never managing to actually establish a pattern of movement which hasn't helped! Each time I think I've figured it out it doesn't seem to be the case as she then never follows what I think is a pattern

I would speak to your midwife about this and maybe ask to be induced early as it's affecting your mental health so much. I'm pretty sure in my area if you have a few episodes of reduced movements towards the end of pregnancy then this is what they do anyways to reassure the mum. Can't be good for you to be constantly fretting about baby.

@capybaras I've rang them as I got all worked up and I'm going in for monitoring this evening. I then became very upset over the phone when the midwife informed me I cannot have her at the birthing centre and it'll have to be the hospital on continuous monitoring as I've had more than one episode of reduced movements. I've done lots of research and hospitals mean significant increase in unnecessary interventions and distressing births. It's just hard as I know it's been because of my anxiety and not a clinical concern with the baby so to have the choice taken away from me because of anxiety is horrible. I'm hoping when I see my community midwife next week they'll be of a different opinion and agree I can still attend the birthing suite

How are you @Capybaras?

@Bjones123 oh my lovely hope you’re doing OK today.

Keep talking to your midwife. Keep her informed of everything you’re feeling.

Being in the hospital versus the birthing centre isn’t going to affect the chances of you getting your baby out safely. I’m sure statistically more women in hospital do end up having interventions but that’ll be because their births are higher risk anyway. You have to be quite low risk round here to go to the birthing centre.

Sounds like you’ve spent some time on google and have panicked yourself. Remember people only write something online when they have a story to tell so you won’t find many “I ended up at the hospital not the birthing centre and my baby was delivered happily and safely with no drama” stories.

Any news from you pancakes? Reflexology bring anything on?