Due June 2022 - thread 10! Rolling into third trimester!

[imhereforthecake]

Thread 10!
Please tag anyone who may be missed!
Nearly there everyone.

rathernotshare
@earlgreywithlemon
@matilda30
@olive60
@growbabygrow
@sunflower198
@rolledthedice
@czycoup
@mrsnt
@curryandsnuggle
@beansprout55
@prema12
@unknownscot
@pregnancydiaries
@northofthebordermum
@clueless22
@imhereforthecake
@pleasesendnoodles
@hellointhere
@pregnancydiaries
@invisibledragon
@destiEos
@flowerbug1994
@fpeg
@rathernotshare
@jennixxx
@rosevalleyrambles
@peony12
@PeeAche
@Turniptracker
@ALHCTPS
@MrsTwentyNine
@ChildOfFriday
@InvisibleDragon
@Vimto1991
@fpeg
@Starbeach
@Lostintranslatio
@JAR1981
@BunBun221
@nikita22
@mrkb

Spritz for bits was helpful for me too, as was putting a drop of lavender oil on my knickers. That was recommended by the physio at 6 weeks post birth when everything was more healed (not sure if it can be done sooner).

Perineal massage didn’t help me either, but it doesn’t mean it’s not worth a try!

Stage 1: lie down... heartburn
Stage 2: sit up.... rib pain and breathlessness
Stage 3: get comfy...need to pee.
Repeat stages 1 and 2
Stage 3: get comfy... alarm goes off to take iron and aspirin
Repeat Stage 1
Need to pee
Repeat 1 and 2
Fire needs a log on
Repeat 1 and 2
Stage 3: get comfy...hunger strikes.
Stage 4: Give up and go to bed...heartburn, insomnia and frequent peeing

Anyone else just spending every evening at this stage in a similar cycle or am I going crazy?😂

@Brightsmoke

Omg the morphine ❤️ I forgot about the morphine *@Letsbekindplease*. Amazing!

I keep umming and ahhing about the spritz for bits, I don't think it existed with my son, so I'm glad you've recommended it. Also gutted the peri massage didn't work 🙈

Still give it a go. It didn’t work for me but might for you. I saw on Instagram one of the blogger mums uses the peri massage and it helped her. I got a good deal on Amazon for the spray. Think I got a good £4 off.

@fpeg that’s hilarious! I would love a holiday and some sunshine at the min though so sounds fab! We did do the maternity shoot last week by the way and I am so thrilled with the pictures. It’s funny as I look really pregnant and it kind of feels more real now. Having a hard time choosing with to purchase from the photographer now though they aren’t cheap!

@destiEos me! Please. I did the GTT on Monday and got the diagnosis yesterday. I go pick up my monitor from the hospital this afternoon. Feeling very down about it especially given it’s been picked up late (almost 33 weeks now) and Ive been blissfully unaware potentially causing the baby harm with my sweet tooth the past couple of months. And then there’s all the awful stories about stillbirth 😭. Also the consultant said they’d want to induce me even earlier now which is def not the kind of birth I want!

I’m sure the thread has moved on, but re the subject of whether or not to address your bikini line prior to the birth, I must admit I slapped on a bit of Nair when I was first in labour. Nothing to do with aesthetics, as my legs remained hairy and toenails unpainted etc, but I figured, just as they shave your head before operating on your skull, it might help to be relatively tidy down there. And I’m glad I did. Many of us will experience at least slight tearing or be cut (episiotomy) and you do not want a stray pube getting in the way of stitches and I prefer to handle deforestation myself rather than be shaved. And then, post birth, while healing, you’re massively swollen and it helps not to have wild lives that might get caught up or stick to pads etc. It’s a question of practicality not fashion, to my mind.

@needarainbow and anyone else suffering with heartburn:

Mine got so bad that I couldn't eat or sleep. I went to my mum's and got heartburn from sipping sparkling water, before lunch was even served.

Eventually, I spoke to my GP and he prescribed me esomepresol. It changed my life. It's a one-per-day solution but I find I only need 1 every 2 to 3 days.

You can also buy it over the counter but check with your GP first.

I've started snoring and it's driving a wedge in my marriage. I'm so ashamed. 😳

@ALHCTPS you've convinced me to do the same...
I'm scared to use any shaving creams downstairs these days so may just trim but yes makes sense if you have to get stitches etc...

Has anyone started their birth plan? My midwife hasn't mentioned anything but I feel like I want to start writing one already...
I may ask her at my 31 week appt today

Well I've just spent half an hour staring at my belly instead of getting ready for work... I feel like in the last few days baby movements have changed, no less just different, maybe weaker. But he's still moving lots it's so hard to know when to go in to be get checked. I've read they do change at 32 weeks. Close monitoring today... Anyone else feeling this at 32 weeks+?

@PeeAche2 I can't believe how ridiculous people can be, how do they possibly think they will get away with it? So glad you're fighting it and so sorry you have this stress, some people really suck

Shaving/cream/any other hair removal will not be happening for my labour, only thing I may do is keep it a bit trimmed. I've read it's best to go au natural to reduce the chances of infections

@MrsTwentyNine - never had a birth plan last time. Way too many variables and it felt like setting myself up for disappointment getting too stuck on what might be my ‘perfect’ birth. Instead, Beloved and I talk through every possible scenario so he was totally clear on what my preference might be if I couldn’t advocate for myself. But I also trusted him to be robust and use his judgement, as you simply don’t know what will happen.

@MrsTwentyNine I saw my midwife yesterday and she said we'll look at my birth plan at 36 weeks.

There's nothing stopping you starting it now though. There's an NHS template online.xx

@Prema112 yes omg! 32 weeks today and I’ve felt nothing all morning so I’m besides myself panicking. I’m drinking a sugary fizzy drink in hoping it will get them going. Yesterday they were kicking up a storm all day so I’m really hoping they are a bit pooped out from that or facing away from me! If I don’t feel anything in two hours I’ll be calling triage but they’ve done this before and baby starts kicking as I reach for the phone. 😅

@Annabell1 the stress I feel has eased a bit but mainly because my therapist has helped me through it, and I extended maternity so finish Friday 29th April. Having that countdown be so soon is helping me to survive such a shitty atmosphere at work. 😅

@needarainbow

We are living the same life!

@Vimto1991 if your unsure I would give them a call it’s so hard to decide when to go in I went in on Monday as on Sunday I didn’t feel much but then I had a bath and lied down and he starting moving so I was content. Then Monday morning not much at all went in and monitored for 40 minutes and he was fine. Yesterday he went mad all day and now this morning he’s back to abit less active but still moving. The midwife I seen was amazing she said we won’t shout at you even if we see you everyday we see the other side of it you always have to come in. Which put me at ease cause before I went I was crying to my mum saying I feel over dramatic. But she was really lovely j was in 4 weeks ago with same thing and that midwife was not so nice so I think she put me off but now if I haven’t had anything for a couple of hours I would be ringing for advice.

@PeeAche2 that sounds like something I need to look into because it is all.the.time. Similarly to you, its even when I haven't eaten anything 🤦‍♀️ being horizontal does me no favours though...the heartburn doesn't like that 😂

@imhereforthecake I'm sorry to hear you're suffering but it's nice to know someone else is having a similar experience 😂😂 Doesn't exactly make for a relaxing evening does it?

@Flowerbug1994 they’ve had a bit of a roll and kick and gone back to sleep I think. They normally start back up around 9:30-10 so will monitor their next pattern. :) yeah it’s hard to know as I don’t want to waste anyones time and it’s a 45 minute journey each way to the hospital. I don’t have a midwife to contact so would go straight to triage I guess. It’s terrifying cause I’d only blame myself for not calling, but just going to monitor their usual times. Thankfully I felt movement just not as much compared to yesterday (which to be fair was way more than normal!)

@needarainbow it really doesn't. I got omeprazole from the drs which helped but the last week or so I'm having Rennies aswell!
The rib burn though... ouch.

@Vimto1991 brilliant that you’ve felt them move !! My problem is this little boy doesn’t seem to have a pattern in the slightest 😭😭😭 one day he’s like a Duracell bunny the next he is very very lazy. Only 8 weeks to go and he can be as lazy as he likes when he’s here 😂😂😂

@JAR1981 I always find choosing which photos the hardest!

@Prema112 33 weeks today and she definitely has days when although moving not as strong. I do notice though that I can fully feel her back and so I think a lot of it is just directed inwards so I don't feel it as much

@MrsTwentyNine birth plan started in so far as telling them I want to use hypnobirthing techniques, etc. (got a good template example when I did my hypnobirthing course) midwife told me they didn't discuss until 36 week appointment, others on here confirmed this. My birth plan is essentially that I want baby with minimal harm to baby and then me and within that do what is necessary to get them out in a healthy manner! As @ALHCTPS says I'm not setting myself up for the "perfect" birth because plans change 😂 it does mention that I'd like to use water tub if possible.

@Flowerbug1994 it’s reassuring to know others are having wild days then quiet days. Maybe they do tire themselves out. It is movements but barely making my stomach move. I actually wonder if they’re turned around the correct way where they have their back to my belly. And I’m here making them hyperactive with all the sugar to get them to move and they’re probably fine 😅

@needarainbow - that sounds like my whole day, throw in the blood glucose tests 4 times a day and the nap requirement and I'm surprised I'm still "working" :/

@JAR1981 Ahh, sorry to hear - in solidarity, I was in the exact same postion. I had been eating ALL the biscuits and cake for the preceeding couple of months. To be fair, I thought I deserved it after the previous 3 or 4 months of feeling so nauseous all I could eat was white bread and mild cheddar - but yeah probably wasn't doing the little one much good :/

Keep in mind that GD doesn't usually kick in til until later on - starting at 24-28 weeks and then peaking at 36 weeks (www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk/diagnosing-gestational-diabetes) I only had my test at 28 weeks and it took them a few days to get round to the appointment to get the monitor, and then another week to get used to the routine and adjust eating patterns. So late diagnosis is sort of expected as you don't actually develop it til later in the pregnancy.

Also, apparently my post GTT test glucose levels (9, I think) - wouldn't have even flagged me up in Scotland or Ireland.

As regards big baby size, he was measuring at the 11th percentile last time I saw the midwife, just the week before the diagnosis - so it doesn't seem to have caused him extra growth - scan today though, so I'll let you know if that's changed.

Yeah, don't read the horror stories - there are more risks, but mostly if your blood glucose levels are not being controlled or poorly controlled. So I'm just doing what I can do to keep things in check from a diet point of view (and dreaming of cake and champagne daily after the birth!) - which is all we really can do..

I had been planning on an ECS anyway, due to my age (and hatred of pain :D) and was advised from my first mid-wife appointment that I would be induced anyway if I reached 40 weeks. I'm likely to be scheduled for a c-section at 38 weeks I think, which I'm quite keen on, as I'm pretty done with being pregnant now! I'd personally prefer c-section to induction, so this isn't as bad for me but I'd discuss it with them to see what your options are. Be prepared to be told that they'll have to wait and see how you manage it with diet though.

Last thing - I had all my midwife and doctor appointments cancelled and am now only seeing GD team at the hospital for the remainder of the pregnancy which feels a bit unsettling, despite not even liking my midwife, at least we had met a few times.

Anyway - useful advice on diet I wish I was given (it is on the UK GS website) as it took me a full week to get my tests to stay in range:

1. Don't bother with cereal, I didn't manage to tolerate it at all and always spiked over 7.8 on post-breakfast testing, even with a teeny bowl.
2. Toast is ok, one slice max in the morning though! As the day goes on I seem to tolerate much better - I can even have 2 toast with half a tin of spaghetti or beans and cheese and stay within range at lunch or dinner.
3. PAIR foods! Add protein or fat to carbs.

E.g: If you're going to do cereal, then yoghurt and nuts - no fruit(carby). A few squares of dark chocolate with some cashews is fine. Toast - with peanut butter, eggs or avocado is better than with just butter.

1. Smaller portions - 3 small meals and 2 snacks a day works fine for me. If I'm hungry after lunch, I wait the hour; test then have another small portion if the test shows I'm only up around 5.5-6ish.

I've overloaded you, I'm sure. That's my worldly advice

@imhereforthecake aww the rib burn is really something noone warned me about! I feel duped! I went to a friends for a meal last week and even leaning forward at the dining table to eat and chat brought on the rib pain. We usually would have sat there all evening chatting and drinking but I had to ask if we could sit in the living room so I could stretch out 🤦‍♀️

@destiEos oh no I do not envy you at all! Mine doesn't seem to bother me so much at work but then I'm up and about most of the day for my job. The other side of that though is the swollen feet 😂 how long do you have left working? 8 weeks for me and I am very much counting the days.

@needarainbow I'm back on the omeprazole - which takes a lot longer to kick back in than it did to fade out! I am starting to feel better, but I'm sitting down all the time, so probably not helping...some days the little one goes into some odd position and then I can barely move so semi-horizontal and that really doesn't help :'( Wish I could see what he's up to, the little bugger!

I'm waiting for confirmation on scheduling an ECS so I can change my maternity leave date - it's currently set to my due date (8th June) but I think I'll want at least a week before off. Probably no more than that as I can't really do much now at 32 weeks, let alone in 6 more and I have some time off booked over Easter to relax and get a few bits done.. I'm counting the minutes til Friday - 10 days off - whoo! Work smells of wee.

If you can convince your doctors, esomeprozole (I might not have spelled that correctly) is better than omeprezole. It works faster, for longer, causes fewer tummy aches... but it is slightly more expensive. So you might need to turn on the waterworks. 😈😂

I am in an odd predicament at work. As mentioned before due to stress/anxiety and things like PGP, I moved my maternity date from the 8th June (due date) to the 23rd May and my annual leave from the 23rd May to the 2nd May. I emailed HR so I had it in writing well before the 28 days were up to let them know my maternity date would need changing so they can sort my SMP (this company doesn’t pay a single bit of maternity pay).
However, after sending two emails to HR, which includes a question about my annual leave (it carries over with bank holiday so I’m taking 14 days and carry over 11 + 6 bank holidays) as I wanted that in writing for when I return…. They haven’t responded.
My manager has sorted my annual leave, so I got off the 3rd May, this ends 23rd May when maternity kicks in. There’s a two week gap on my planner before my maternity kicks in (because they did do the 8th June so that is sorted). Now, if I don’t say anything, I’d in theory be paid for those two weeks in between. Obviously this is wrong as I wouldn’t be working but getting a full wage (I earn a good amount, too). But on top of emailing HR twice I also told my manager by phone that they haven’t sorted it. He’s the sort of manager that would absolutely let it slide under the radar, and surely if anything comes of it, I have my proof I contact HR twice and my manager… so should I just quietly let this slip by, or email a third time to get it sorted? Technically there’s only a week and a bit left as it needs 28 days notice, but I told them 1st April so plenty of notice. 🤨