Due June 2022 (thread seven!)

[PeeAche]

New Thread!

Thank you everyone! Good luck today @PeeAche @Prema112!

Good job I recieved a reminder text over the weekend as I thought I was in at 1030 but turns out it's 1pm! Came into work for a couple of hours to take my mind off of it as I feel much more nervous for this scan!

What do you guys do to relieve stress? I’d normally burn a candle or have a drink but obviously havent in the past six months. I’ve read essential oils are also bad so are diffusers out the mix?
I find myself getting more overwhelmed than before pregnancy (I used to thrive off stress and work better but now I’m a pile of goop).
I do pregnancy yoga sometimes but find myself only temporarily at peace, and sometimes just frustrated trying to tie my body into a pretzel 😂
Just looking at ideas of what you guys do to bring stress levels down!

@JAR1981 you just need to get mat1b form from midwife and that’s it for now 😊
I’ve already confirmed my plan of action with HR to let them know when I’m taking all my AL before hand and because of all the bank holidays my AL is stretching so far !
Starting Mat leave from 6th June. Using AL to finish all together on Wed 11th May and using rest of AL to book 2 days off a week leading up to 11th May so I’m essentially part time from start of April and still carrying a week over to next year 😍
Count down is well and truly on now!!

@Littlemilomoo nice plan! That’s so similar to me because of all the bank holidays we get. Start mat leave 8th June, finish Friday 20th May, booked off Mondays so my last Monday is the 11th April. I was tempted to use a bit more AL but because it rolls over into 2023 I am holding on to some to go back part time but get paid full time when I return. :)

@Vimto1991 I really hope someone replies saying diffusers are fine because my house is full of them...😂 I have turned off the electric ones though, just in case.

I have no advice on stress and welcome any someone might give!!zx

😄 Perfect kidneys and spine! I am over the moon! We had the nicest kindest sonographer who explained everything and was really understanding of my anxiety and it just made the world of difference. I'm determined to ENJOY this pregnancy now as best I can and stop all the worry. Hope you have wonderful scans too @Olive60 & @PeeAche! X

No pics, gender or complete anomaly check 🤦🏻‍♀️ Baby was totally uncooperative. But is alive and wriggling and everything that was checked was "perfect". Baby a bit on the small side for 21 weeks so being called back again for another check on 22nd. Boo!

Congrats on yours @Prema112

1 hour to go @Olive60 !xxx

@PeeAche Argh that's frustrating it's quite an anticlimax when they can't get all the measurements isn't it. So glad to hear baby was wriggling away though and maybe it's quite nice you get to see them again? But I understand your frustration, just prolongs the waiting xx

@pregnancydiaries I was just wondering this morning if it’s possible to try sleep sitting up 😂. I know the worry about right side but i think NHS guidance is now that either side is fine. I try and switch every couple of hours. Might try duvet back under fitted sheet in addition to the topper. I’ll be like the princess and the pea!

@Vimto1991 do you have any nice woods/open spaces near where you live? Taking the dog for a nice walk in the woods calms me down. Or watching something mind-numbing on Netflix. Also it’s been so long since I had a wine that I’ve found I can trick my brain with a non-alcoholic drink now too. Anon & tonic is my go-to at the minute!

Thanks for the info on maternity leave. I should have about 12 days of AL accrued by the end of May so also thinking I’ll use that ahead of starting mat leave. I’m due on the 2nd so will probably finish around May 14 if I can hang on that long! Or is aiming to finish at 37 weeks too late?

@JAR1981 if you find the solution please share!!

As for mat leave, I think that 37 weeks sounds like the perfect time. I'm finishing at 36+3 but planned section around week 38 xx

Is anyone finding they’ve gained a lot of weight. I mean I was always on the bigger side and I am a bit worried about gaining too much and it being a risk to the baby. Is there anyway to control the constant urge to eat?

Rescan today. Baby was having a good sniff of his foot, as you do. Everything well and in the right place. Also can feel him now despite anterior placenta (from about 21 weeks). Not a fan of it, very weird feeling!

@PeeAche Snap! Back in 2 weeks. Told me not to worry as everything looks fine she just couldn't get all the measurements.
Baby's on the 45th centile which is good as I'm consultant led due to a small baby before!

Glad to hear it all went OK @prema112 ❤👶🏼

@turniptracker love those pictures! Glad everythings ok

@pregnancydiaries @Vimto1991 here's a link to essential oils and those that are safe/not safe. Aromatherapy considered safest option so electric diffusers ok so long as you stick to the safe list.

@JAR1981 I'm starting mat leave 16th May (so long as she stays put and I feel comfortable) and I'm due on 1st June. I normally travel quite a bit with my job but will be requesting to work from home from the beginning of May (will allow me to sort out handover properly)

Lovely pictures @Turniptracker! Glad you got the rest of measurements and everything was ok @Prema112 and glad that everything they could measure was ok, rubbish that you have to go back but bonus that you get to see them again 😊

Aww lovely photos. Glad everything looked good @Turniptracker and @Prema112

Annoying for you @Olive60 and @PeeAche but at least you get to see your babies again soon!

@Clomid1 I don’t have much advice but I offer solidarity in that my appetite in the evenings is INSATIABLE. It’s something I’ve never experienced before. Part of me thinks my body knows what it needs so maybe I need to eat a bit more. I’m just trying not to buy too many of the ‘wrong things’ while shopping so I’m not tempted. Hard though! And in ‘expecting better’ by Emily Oster (recommended on here a few times) she says studies show it’s actually better to gain a bit too much weight than not enough for babies outcomes. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Erm. Am I the only one who didn’t know about candles and diffusers?!?!

I didn’t think there was any issue with candles, beyond the general concerns about burning any fires (not just for pregnant women ) - I.e particulates. I’d have thought the occasional candle would be fine from that point of view.

@Olive60 & @Turniptracker congrats on your scans! Great picture Turnip! Olive that's annoying they couldn't get all the measurements but will be nice to see baby again

Congrats on all the successful scans today! Lovely pictures!

Regarding aromatherapy / candles, when I was with my in-laws in Egypt they put an incense burner on a few times. I didn't like it (personally have the smell), but my baby is fine and healthy.

Had my vaccine shots today (flu, whooping cough, tetanus) and the nurse - who said she originally trained as a midwife - was very sceptical about cloth nappies. Said they are not necessarily cheaper (I don't believe this) and are more likely to leave baby with a wet bum and crying (surely the baby won't be left wet because I'll be changing the nappy?).

I still intend to use cloth nappies, but it seemed unusual to hear such opposition. Is that common and do people have problems with cloth?

I have candles and diffusers all over the gaff so here's hoping it's fine 😂
I've never heard that before and I'll be continuing the way I started x

@RubyRoss my mum's an ex-midwife and has the exact opposite opinion to this. In reality I think it's probably all down to not leaving them in wet/dirty nappies either way round and that different things will suit different people. There's probably not much in it cost wise by the time you take into account all the washing and drying. A friend is giving me some cloth nappies she used and I'm going to see how I get on with them. I tend to find that for things like this there is no "right" answer but people have very strong opinions (and aren't afraid to send them your way!)