Due March/April 2022 Thread 3. Third trimester and babies!!

[Dyra]

Didn't quite realise we were so close to the end of the second one. So let's have another one! I'll post the due date list in a moment.

Thanks for the tips @MiracleBaby2022 hope you and baby are doing ok 🤞

I think I've had a few braxton hicks. I feel this one will be early but who knows. Getting some gross upper left back pain which sucks and hip pain. I also proper sobbed today cause a customer was borderline rude to me at work 😅

Got some snacks and a dressing gown in my bag now. Going to get spare pants and socks just for my bag. It's daft but I'm nervous about being in hospital too long. In April I was by my stepdads side for 2 weeks before he passed so still finding it difficult being in that environment! Hopefully the happy reason for being there will help 🤞

Oh no @MiracleBaby2022! Hope you and baby are doing ok, and your stay on antenatal wasn't too onerous. We're you not allowed to close your curtains? Doesn't block out all the light, but it did help.

We're ok now, I was admitted to hospital with very severe pains - this turned out to be a UTI which was had been left untreated which in turn had caused a kidney infection and kidney stones. The stones seems to have passed naturally going for a wee after bouts of horrific pains. Luckily baby is all ok, she seemed distressed and my stomach looked like it had contractions for a while. We were well looked after though, and just waiting for the infections to clear up now.

If anything good came out of the experience it is that it's meant to be more painful than childbirth so I'm no longer dreading it!!

Exciting about the braxton hicks, though the pains don't sound too good! I've yet to experience BH, not sure if everyone gets them?

Spending some time in the antenatal ward these last few days was really good practice for me. All the bits you've got for your hospital bag will come in good use.

Hopefully your experience of giving birth will take away some of the sad associations of being there! X

@Dyra sorry just seen your reply too, last message explains a bit about our stay. As for the curtains, they were closed, but the strip light is above it so makes no difference! It was really awful... I've now packed a cap !!

Oh that's some really badly placed lights and curtains. Unless they're those crappy ones that don't go all the way to the ceiling. Glad you and baby are ok. How utterly rubbish having picked up a UTI that got into your kidneys! And kidney stones as well?... When you say left untreated, does that mean it had it been picked up at an appointment, but hadn't been acting on?

In regards to BH, I only had a very, very few with DD. They were only in the last couple of weeks (35-36 weeks). And they only happened when I'd over exerted myself. They were painless tightenings that lasted only a few seconds. This time they've been much stronger and started much earlier.

Really sorry to hear about your stepdad @Caass45. Hopefully you won't need to be in for too long, and the stay itself won't be too bad.

Yes the UTI clearly must have been there for quite some time to reach the kidneys, despite the fact that they take a urine sample every 3 weeks at my midwife appointment which gets sent off. They would normally call me if the samples come back with anything - but no, nothing! So either they've not read the results properly or it wasn't picked up by the laboratory. It was clearly visible on the ultrasound I had today however, especially the kidney infection.

As for the stone(s), they'll never be able to know for sure now because the ultrasound came too late to show them, but I was admitted with all the usual symptoms, I had severe pains intermittently about every 45 minutes or so getting increasingly stronger until that last one where I honestly can't imagine even childbirth coming close to that sort of pain, it was absolutely horrendous. In between two of these bouts of pain, I went for a wee and both times was like the floodgates had opened up - and afterwards the pain just disappeared. Kidneys still tender of course, due to the infection, but no more sign of the horrific pains (which I was offered morphine for).

I hate being left not knowing for sure, but my symptoms don't even come close to being just bladder and kidney infection. The consultant obviously won't be, and can't say that it was stones for certain - because there's now no physical evidence left.

As for BH - will be interesting to see if I get any, I'm 35+2 now so maybe I'll get some soon - I'm just very curious how they feel ! I guess it's possible to miss them if some of them are as mild as you describe and you don't know what to expect?

A kidney infection can develop in a couple of days, it doesn't mean you've had a urine infection for weeks, but kidney stones are incredibly painful so you have my sympathies, it does sound like you've had them and they've passed.
Hope you're feeling better soon!

I was awake thinking about it all last night. I have Interstitial Cystitis - which I've had for decades - and that won't show up as a UTI on any urine sample, so I'm now wondering if that's what she saw on the ultrasound. I've had pains in my right side for several months added with severe weakness, so the kidney thing has certainly been developing over the course of these months. I had originally put the pains down to the bump pressing on bits in there, and the weakness down to having ME/CFS. The severe weakness did feel quite different to my usual symptoms but I just assumed everything was a bit different now I'm pregnant. Anyway, I think now that the whole thing is probably all kidney related. I wish I'd thought about the IC when I had the ultrasound because she could have told me if IC would look the same as a UTI on screen. It all makes sense, and that's why the urine tests were clear. But yes, after what I experienced I have no doubt either that it was stones, my goodness I really don't want those again - ever! 😬

@MiracleBaby2022 oh jings that sounds awful! Glad your doing better now. And atleast if your less concerned about the birth now thats a plus! I recently had a uti and they sent my urine to the lab on the Monday and didn't call with results until the Friday even they admitted it was late.

Braxton hicks is a weird one I can't be 100% sure that's what I have had but sometimes I stand up and My stomach feels tight and hard. Sometimes it seems to last a while though but maybe that's my imagination. I've had some cramping and feels like having an upset stomach from time to time. And sometimes it feels like I get moments of pressure down below and on my bladder. Don't think zhes dropped yet still early days.

Thanks @Dyra spoke to my mum about it last night she said I will probs feel differently with it being a different hospital and different circumstances 🤞

It's been quite a ride! They finally got the culture and sensitivity tests results back today which did show UTI as well as GBS and kidney infection so they phoned me to come in and change to a different type of antibiotics. Looking forward to doing something other than laying on the sofa soon!

Interesting about the BH, I didn't know they could be so mild.

Forgot to mention that baby is definitely head down now too, so that's one less thing to worry about.

And she's not only head down - I think she's properly dropped. Tucked into my pelvis and making me walk like a penguin. 🐧

Great that she is head down. I'm the same, babys head now engaged and feels so strange!

@easybreezy586 doesn't it just! Very heavy sort of pushing feeling into the pelvis. Wonder how long it'll be from when they're engaged to when labour starts...

How's everyone getting on? I had an ECV yesterday and two consultants tried to turn the baby (gosh did they try!). It was unsuccessful and I feel so sad about it. The head didn't move at all. I'm going to try again next week but have a caesarean booked for st Patrick's day! Anyone else had an ECV? Did you have more than 1? My abdomen is now very sore- but I'm glad I tried! I feel like I want to give it one more shot.

Oh no! I've heard it's quite painful, is that so? I was expecting to have one myself but seems my baby is settled down now. How many weeks are you now?

@MiracleBaby2022 Glad they finally got some results back for you. In regards to the group B strep, as you're having antibiotics now, does that mean you won't need them in labour? Also, do you still get to go to your scan on the 4th? For a sneaky peek at baby Making sure she's still head down.

@Pac35 An ECV is something I've never seen done before. Always been curious, but they don't get done in theatres, and naturally I'm not invited to watch. Hopefully baby will turn on the next attempt (or even on their own!). But don't feel sad about it if they don't. Something it really is just one of those things. Three of my FTM colleagues had breech babies. Two had attempted ECVs, which didn't work, never mind all the ball bouncing and floor scrubbing on top of that. The third went head down on her own the day of the section. Mum had no idea it had even happened! She had her second baby not long ago, and baby was cephalic throughout.

Besides a St. Paddy's Day birthday will mean there's always a party for them!

My bloods came back all clear. Surprised, but very relieved. Scan on Monday, and midwife on the 8th. Which will be a strange day for me. If there's no baby by then, it'll be the most pregnant I've ever been.

@MiracleBaby2022 glad you got your results back fingers crossed you'll be good from now.

@Pac35 ecv sounds uncomfortable! Glad you feel up for another go though. These babies will just do what they want eh! Causing all kinds of trouble.

@dyra glad your bloods came back good. A scan would be lovely! Feels weird I haven't seen our little one for 15 weeks now.

Is it odd my last midwife appointment was on Monday and my next one isn't until the 14th? Be 3 weeks between appointments ?

Can't believe it's almost March and baby time! Had a wobble earlier when I realised there's an actual baby inside me 😅

@Dyra no, the group B strep seems to never go away so they've always said I'll need to have the antibiotic drip during labour. My scans are still going ahead, as they are pre scheduled growth scans, very curious to see if she is really truly is still tucked deep down my pelvis as before! The penguin waddle must mean labour isn't far off, but I'm not predicted to be due for another month - 29.03!

Glad to hear your bloods are all clear. Wow, didn't realise you're due imminently - how exciting!

Thanks @Caass45 !

Yes - it's an actual baby, I can't quite believe it myself! 😆

@MiracleBaby2022 so glad you understand cause my husband just looked at me as if to say what on earth did you think was in there the last 8 months 😅

Wish my little one had dropped I'd like her to come a little early not too early but a little

@Caass45 haha 😆 oh yes I'm totally with you, I've looked at this growing belly for all this time and it's still completely surreal. No matter how much she kicks me, it won't become real to me until I see her, I know that now.

Yes me too, a tiny bit early would be good, partly because I'll avoid the planned induction but also don't really want to birth a massive baby either.

@MiracleBaby2022 I know right 😂 I can feel her (and sometimes that is unpleasant just these Bones against your skin) and know she's there but It just hit me like oh wait that's a proper fully formed baby 😅

Yeah exactly I told a customer today when I was born I was 12 days late and she said her granddaughter was too and weighed over 10lb 😳 no thank you. I just think she would like her own birthday and not share mine 🤣 and if she comes late there's more chance of her being born on a siblings birthday. Plus my mum and my parents jn law both live 4 hours away, my mum the Highlands and My inlaws Liverpool so they plan on visiting first week I April. She may not be here yet if she's late 😅

Completely with you guys! I know there's a baby in there. There's kicks, stretches, wriggles and rolls. But connecting that to an actual newborn that's going to be here, for definite, within the next 43 days? Nope! I'm effectively a FTM when it comes to going into labour naturally, and then staying in labour as well. All very mysterious and strange!

@MiracleBaby2022 The part of me that is very done with this pregnancy wishes it were imminent! I should have mentioned I was induced early with DD. She was born at 37+1. Still got a while to go yet. The thought I could get to my due date this time, and not have a baby already is a strange one.

It is odd isn't it. You'd think us - the pregnant mums to be - would be the ones to feel more real about it than anyone else. But nope 😂

@Dyra oh yes, I'm honestly starting to feel a bit tired of pregnancy too. If she came next week that would be perfect!

Just wondering, is everyone else's baby stretching, rolling and kicking constantly too, or is that just my baby? The midwives don't want to worry me, but I can tell that they're surprised by how wriggly she is - all the time!! I mean, she hardly ever stops. I hope it's nothing to worry about but I must admit it does linger in the back of my mind all the time...

Oh and another thing, for those giving birth vaginally - just how many of those biiig knickers will I need afterwards? I've seen a lot of mum-comments on a group somewhere about needing a hell of a lot more than you think. Most 'lists' you find say 5-6. I've got 8. I mean, if I bleed a lot I can imagine going through quite a lot of them before I manage to wash the next lot.

Tbh I found lochia wasn't too bad. Lasted a few weeks, but I only bled through to my pants a few times. I think you'll be fine with what you have. If you find you do need more, slip an extra pack of cheap briefs into your supermarket shop.

As for movements.... Not as constant as yours, but if that's what's normal for your little one, then it's all good. I wonder if it will correlate to a very wriggly baby on the outside? Did for DD. She loved kicking. And good grief those little legs on the outside just would not stop.....