Due end of January 2022 - Thread 3

[spttc]

New thread before we run out!

Hello everyone, I completely missed this new thread! Nice to see familiar "faces/usernames" 😄

I am 30 weeks now, feeling overall good although the upper part of my bump feels sore (like a bruise) and stretched almost all the time...I think it is baby position though, because I don't feel it at all sometimes! Reflux is not nice but is not as bad as it used to be a few weeks ago...Gaviscon helps!

I had a private growth scan last week, baby measuring ok although on the smaller side (around the 34th percentile). I was worried to have a big baby since my partner is 1.90m, but apparently she is more like me for now. We also got to see her cute face with the 3D scan, I am officially in love!! 🥰

about contraception, we have been on withdrawal (I know that's not 100% safe, but that's how we do it and we accept the risk) or condoms since we are together, so I don't think that anything will change in this sense...

on a different note, I am feeling all weird since yesterday night - almost like I am too full of energy and I can't stay still! Similar to when you drink too much coffee...I would go out for a run if I could! not a nice feeling tbh!

@thecapitalsunited thank you, I just felt like I was having a massively unreasonable breakdown 😂 once I'd eaten something anyway, think my sugars were low and made me more reactive.

Gosh yeah socialising over food with it is the worst! Watching people scoff delicious food, while we're putting the 70% of recommended salad or veg on our plates instead. Not fun! The finger pricks aren't so bad after a week or so honestly, I think your fingers toughen up a little after a few in each. Hope it goes better for you and you manage to keep it under control with diet

Still on contraception, we did just use condoms initially as we planned to have another but just didn't want them too close together. It took 3 years for DS so I didn't want to mess with my body. We definitely don't want a third so will definitely consider something longer term this time.

Sorry for those of you who are restricted by a GD diet. At least we're heading towards the final stretch now.

33 weeks tomorrow for me and only 4 weeks left at work. I think this part will fly by! I'm still lucky to be feeling really well so trying to get Christmas and the the house organised.

Anyone else hit 30 weeks and then start struggling a bit?? Apart from the sickness and tiredness through the first and second trimesters, it has felt like a bit of breeze so far. However, I hit 30 weeks last Sunday and now I feel like I have aged about 40 years. My back aches, the skin around my bump feels tighter, bump has had a massive growth spurt, I feel breathless going up and down the stairs... these next 7-10 weeks can't go quick enough! Luckily it is over the winter and I can hibernate. 21 physical working days left!!

@winterbabyrose I completely get it. The worst part for me is the belly button pain, I have no idea how it's going to cope for another 8 weeks - but I guess it just does. I'm struggling with not being able to go for long walks without my hips protesting. I love a couple of hours over fields and forest especially in winter, but I can only go about 20 minutes now and then pay for it for the rest of the day :(

Hi everyone, I thought it had gone quiet on here, didn’t realise there was a new thread. Hopefully now I’ve posted I’ll get notifications.

31 weeks today, it’s crazy how fast it’s going. Has anyone found any good Black Friday deals? I feel like I’m really unorganised and have slight panic moments.

Hope your all doing ok x

Yeah I'm feeling increasingly more uncomfortable now I'm 31 weeks, pelvic pain and difficulty sleeping are my biggest problems as well as general fatigue.
My midwife told me my haemoglobin was slightly low and has advised me to increase the iron in my diet (brocoli, spinach, eggs, dried apricots, lentils etc) so am spending some time meal planning today!
@winterbabyrose could anaemia be contributing to your shortness of breath? Worth trying to increase your iron intake?
3 weeks left of f2f working for me and I am so ready to start winding down and working from home!

I think I might be the exception in feeling relatively fine. I have a touch of sciatica which a seat wedge seems to be keeping at bay but I'm fine to do an hour of dog walking each night plus maybe a 30 minute workout too. I found the first trimester pretty hard with fatigue and most of the second trimester too so it's nice to start feeling vaguely ok except for the bits where I can't get off the floor properly, my ferritin levels are low and my mood swings quickly from happy to extreme grouch. However, I might be feeling chipper today because I can't keep my blood sugar levels within target so I'm as high as balls on glucose.

@SouthwestSis Ooo possibly, didn't think of that! I am still awaiting my results from my 28wk late pregnancy bloods, so I chased the midwife on those today and mentioned the exhaustion and breathlessness etc. So I will have to see what she says!

Has anyone started packing their hospital bag yet? I wasn't going to start it until about 33-34 weeks, but after reading a few threads on here about previous mums to be, the general consensus seems to be around 30 weeks to at least start it, just in case. So DH got our little cabin bags down from the loft last night so I can start airing them out ready to start packing! Seems so surreal that that time has now come!

Oh hell no, I won't be starting packing a bag until at least 33/34 weeks, am not ready to face that reality (and I think it will just lead to disappointment as it will likely sit unused for 3 months if I start it now).

Yeah I worry about everything being musty and horrible by the time we come to use it! You know, that suitcase smell.

What is everyone planning to wear for labour? Was reading about birthing dresses and I've nothing suitable I don't think, but equally don't want to spend a fortune on something that'll get all manly I'm guessing

*manky

Hospital bag packed here.. but I'm travelling over Xmas (just UK obviously) and wanted to take it with me for security.

I've also got a watch on iron levels, not bad enough for the pills but encouraged to eat a lot of spinach.

I have a button down nightdress for labor, or a long t-shirt if I end up in the pool. Definitely treating it as disposable due to the ick of labour

Hello everyone!

I have for now a "hospital drawer" where I am keeping the stuff that I am planning to take to the hospital...so that I don't have stuff hanging around in a suitcase but in case anything happens, I can just tell my partner or anyone really to put all of that in a bag and take it to the hospital.
To be honest I don't really have everything in there, but I am adding stuff as I go :)

just out of curiosity, are you using a suitcase, a large bag, or what...? I am not sure tbh what's best, it feels weird to go to the hospital with the same hand luggage I use to travel and maybe I would prefer a normal bag that I can just unzip and reach for what I need in the moment... but when I went to the labour ward for other reasons I saw other women with suitcases...?!

I haven't even thought about hospital bags yet. That will probably happen around 36 weeks if I'm honest! Though I have dug out a birthing ball and some heat pads etc only because I was clearing the loft.

I found it more useful to have several small bags rather than a big suitcase. You, baby, partner and the most important snacks! I will definitely be packing way less this time. Seriously overdid it last time! Important point about snacks. Do think about you and your partner as no one will provide for them and often shops etc are a good walk away. I know my husband wouldn't have wanted to leave me to get a sandwich so we packed a range of easy non perishable bits. Stuff that just need hot water added were great.

As for clothes for labour, treat them as disposable. Coming from someone who had a labour that went tits up, you really won't care what you're wearing! I ended up with a hospital gown as by that point I'd have rather messed their stuff than mine!!

@EsseKey I've gone for a duffle with packing cubes so DH can just grab bits out for me as and when and I'm not rummaging. Will also take nappy bag. Plan on stocking up on snacks nearer the time too.

I’ve told DH that he has to pack the hospital bag so that he can find things easily, especially the baby’s bits. He’s also been told that he’s in charge of snacks and hydration. I think he’s actually pleased to have a job!

Ahhh so happy to have refound this new thread! Hope you are all well!!
I’m 33 weeks this Saturday- cat believe how quickly the second trimester went! started our birth preparation classes a couple of weeks back which has really hammered home how close we are getting! Bags partially packed, finishing work on Friday so next week countdown begins… I feel so nervous about going on maternity leave- being bored but also just sort of waiting for something to happen!! How are you all feeling about it? What are you planning on doing during your mat leave… I’m thinking of doing a hair/nails salon trip as a treat before Xmas and just sorting the house out really but worried I’ll be bored & anxious?!

One thing I am v happy about is how great I feel now compared to weeks 4-16… oh my god I felt horrendous!!! I’m uncomfortable now but still 10 times more survivable than those early weeks of extreme extreme fatigue!
Xox

Yeah I'm a bit worried about being bored/anxious/impatient but am staying at work until 37+5 (although working from home from 35w).
I'm gonna order a couple of books and maybe plant some bulbs in the garden, try and go for a swim every other day and make sure that I keep on top of batch cooking and keep the freezer full.
Also thinking ahead and getting birthday cards/presents for any friends with Jan/Feb birthdays and boring stuff like making sure the car is booked for an MOT etc.
I also quite fancy a lot of napping!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 our femur measurement is around 10-15% hence it not formally triggering anything, just a bit worrying when everything else is average or a touch higher. We have another scan Monday so I think I’ll ask if I get the chance.

Hospital bag wise, I’ve decided I’m taking a small wheeled suitcase for me and the baby changing bag looped over the top for baby. Deliberately not got down my larger carry on suitcase from the loft as I think I’ll just pack more because I can. We live 10 mins from the hospital and if I have to stay in DH will have to come home anyway so I figure he can always bring in bits.

I haven’t packed yet though, I’m thinking about 33 weeks. My logic being if anything happened now it wouldn’t be a normal stay so a normal hospital bag wouldn’t be much use anyway. I do have a detailed list on my phone though so I could always send that to DH.

For labour im just going with an old tshirt I can bin after. A few people I know said they ended up stripping off or in a gown so I don’t want to buy something specific.

I did a thread Growth Scans - Low Femur Length (I can't copy and paste the link on the app sorry) and a lot of people had very reassuring stories that made me feel a bit better. Just in case any of you wanted to have a read through.

Think I'm being induced at 37/38 weeks so I'll prob pack a bag a couple weeks before. I like whoever's idea it was of collating all the stuff in one place/one drawer, so you can just shove it all in a bag when needed

Just an FYI ladies, Dorothy perkins have a great sale on of maternity clothing at the moment, with lots of sizes left. At the moment I just have a few trousers/leggings and am keeping on top of the laundry religiously. Decided to get a few more bits so I can let it pile up a bit more towards due date and not have to worry for first few months after baby is here. There is also a voucher code for additional 10% off and free delivery if it helps anyone: DPBFXVCUK

@Tangfastic91 did I need anymore clothes? No. Did I go for a browse anyway? Yes. Did I end up buying a dress? Also yes 🙈

@Jonesy88 sorry for being a bad influence