Due February 2022 (thread 3)

[Winterfellismyhome]

Our other thread about to max out so welcome to thread 3! How is everyone doing?

Got my booster booked in for Monday, quite a relief really. I wanted to make sure I'm as covered as possible for the final stretch! Is anyone thinking about doing perineal massage or using one the devices that's supposed to stretch you like the epi-no or aniball? Anyone have any experiences using them before?

I also wanted to ask if anyone has a low lying placenta? They told me at 20 weeks, so have a scan at 32 weeks, but interested to know if anyone else has one too? I am not concerned, it wasn’t covering the cervix, but was very close.
I am wondering if baby will be measured at that scan too or not.

For those of you who have had confirmation that baby has turned, what did it feel like? I’m getting some weird stabbing pains near my belly button today and I’m pretty sure he’s been lying sideways for the past few weeks as I only ever feel the kicks / punches either side of my stomach. Wondering (read: hoping) if this could be him wriggling into a head down position? I’m currently in week 31 for context.

@catinthehat12 i had a low lying placenta that was completely covering the cervix. 28 week scan said it had moved up. Had a scan on Monday at 32 weeks that said the same :)

@catinthehat12 they did measure baby too and the consultant was worried that she was big. Scan on monday said she was 4lbs which is bang on average

@catinthehat12 yes I think I was told that at my 20 week, not done me any harm. I'm 31+3 and all's going swimmingly. Baby is head down already. I will have a scan next week and they will measure. I can tickle baby's feet when they kick as a can see the bumps they make!

Hopefully will have my booster jab next week.

I know it's a bit silly but I don't think my hair on my head has grown during my pregnancy...anyone else felt that?! Mine usually grows quickly and doubles and a bit in a year and it just hasn't so far....

That’s good news for you both, thanks @Winterfellismyhome and @PrettyPlatapus. I expect it will have moved then! I had a growth scan at 28 weeks but they wouldn’t check for me as they said it often hasn’t moved by then and they don’t want to cause any worry although I wouldn’t be the type to be worried by it anyway.

@AtomicSquash I've got the Aniball, on recommendation of some friends who had pretty good births and no tears. It's apparently more about practising pelvic control and how to breathe out the baby slowly, and getting used to the sensation of giving birth rather than just stretching down there, and it works your pelvic floor before and after giving birth. However my midwife said you can prob achieve similar results with very diligent massage for cheaper, cos it came to about £84 once I added the lube and cleaner etc.

Is anyone else experiencing absolute RAGE?? I’m finding I can go from 0-ready to kill in an instant!!!
Im usually quite calm and try not to let too much bother me but I’m finding it takes me a while to snap out of it which is really unlike me!

@0Scapes not rage but I get upset at the smallest thing.

I'm really struggling with food aversions again in my third trimester and when I do eat I can only manage a few bits before I feel full. I'm hoping I can manage my Christmas dinner!

@0Scapes yes I have this! I also get upset at the smallest of things as well, happy and sad I feel like I'm on an emotional rollercoaster hourly never mind daily haha

@0Scapes
Irritability is through the roof and will burst into tears at the drop of a hat. Complete opposite of my usual temperament. The constant exhaustion is not helping..

My partner has chronic pain and an injured back so I'm going to have any opportunity to slow down or put my feet up.

It’s nice to see I’m not alone. I was worried it might have been just me 😂.

@PrettyPlatapus That sounds tough. I’m in a similar boat as well as my husband broke his back a few years ago and has never fully recovered. I keep wondering when it’s time to put my feet up but it’s not happened yet! (The amount of decorating we’re trying to get done as well as work etc doesn’t help!!)

@catinthehat12 I’ve got a low lying placenta too. My scan is just after Xmas, I’m trying not to think about it or make any plans until I know the outcome.

Is anyone feeling really anxious about having a baby in a (potential) lockdown
My anxiety levels are sky high at the moment with what's going on in the world and the unknown

I'm more worried about NHS services being able to be there for us when we're gonna need them over the next few weeks and months.
In previous surges midwives and anaesthetists had to be redeployed to look after covid patients, and NHS staffing is being decimated as the staff are catching covid and having to self isolate.
I wish this government would learn the lessons of past waves and take action before it gets too late.
What an awful mess they're making of it and we'll probably all pay the price with restrictions for longer in the new year.

I'm hoping to go to a standalone birth centre and will be the only ones using the unit so hopefully COVID will not alter our arrangements.

I'm pretty anxious for everything to go well enough to be able to use the centre ....I REALLY don't want to go to the hospital associated with it... Its not the idea of the intervention if needs be, it's the hospital trust...I rather go to the other local hospital trust (which I work in) and know really wellmif I'm going to be alone..

I thought I'd timed this pregnancy quite well and we'd be out of harsh covid times but apparently not at all! My last baby was born just as covid became a thing and we had 4 lovely months together before lockdown hit. It was really fucking hard. Fingers crossed ladies that this will all blow over in the next 6 weeks

@Sleepyquest my last baby was born Xmas day just before we got locked down last time and i found it awful!
It's affected him aswell especially with his social skills he's very anxious around new people or people he's not seen for a while and I found the separation anxiety was so much worse with him than my first little boy

[quote feb2022]@Sleepyquest my last baby was born Xmas day just before we got locked down last time and i found it awful!
It's affected him aswell especially with his social skills he's very anxious around new people or people he's not seen for a while and I found the separation anxiety was so much worse with him than my first little boy [/quote]
I feel so bad for them it's been crap. Really thought this time would be different. It might still be!

I'm panicking about this as well, my worry is that this is my first pregnancy and I can hold my hands up now and say I know I'll be useless in labour so the thought of potentially not being allowed partner in is really worrying me!

All we can do is just keep taking reasonable precautions ourselves and encouraging friends and family to do the same.

Lateral flow tests before any indoor mixing
Not seeing people indoors unless absolutely necessary
Taking up booster jabs
Wearing masks in any indoor spaces/public transport

All we can do is the things within our own power to change, to stop the spread of this dreadful virus!

@SouthwestSis I know it's so sad tho because it's my boys birthdays on the 23rd and Christmas Day and we were hoping to do them a little party and see family & friends but I've had to cancel, it's bad enough their birthdays get overshadowed by Christmas as it is but they are going to lose out on both now it's just so sad, I'm just grateful they are still too young to understand or know any different
It's my littlest boys 2nd birthday this year and he still hasn't had the chance of a "propper" birthday party because of the restrictions last year also

Is anyone else suffering with extreme back pain at night?

Feb2022 - I was just coming on to post the same thing.

Yes I’m really anxious. This is my first baby and I’m 41 so I’ve opted for a maternal request c section and I’m worried that plan will be disrupted due to pressures on the NHS. I feel scared about the possibility of having to have a vaginal birth I’m unprepared for.

I’m nervous about maternity leave under lockdown and my mental health (after two years of this how we now still facing this as a possibility?!) We moved earlier this year and I don’t have many local friends yet so I would be very reliant on baby and mums groups for support.