Hi everyone, well that's me finished work now (like some of you already have) for the best part of a year and although it's a bit surreal it also feels great. It has come along so fast and I'm sure it will for the rest of you aswell. I finished on Tuesday...most colleagues wished me well but one of the stranger more eccentric ones just kept telling me that a tens machine didn't work at all for her so it probably won't for me, and to make sure I make use of my free dental care as someone she knows who was pregnant had all her teeth fall out after giving birth! 😂As if that happens to everyone! She is a little strange, I mean of all the things to talk about when I'm going off. She'll be retiring while I'm on maternity leave anyway, so that's good! 😄 Yesterday morning I had a wander around town while it was nice and quiet. It's nice to have the freedom to do things on weekdays without having to think about work, although that won't last much longer when baby arrives I suppose!
Today I'm 36 weeks...the weeks just seem to be flying past. It feels so strange to think that from now on I'm counting down weeks rather than months! I've started my regime of eating dates today...my midwife suggested eating 2 at breakfast, 2 at lunch and 2 at dinner, it might be nicer than 6 in a row but like @deliwoman1 suggested, chopping them up and putting them in muesli is a good idea!
I really empathise with those of you who are suffering with pelvic/hip pain....I know exactly how you feel. Every night I wake up around 2-3am, not only for the toilet but also because my hips ache, even turning to the other side is painful. I feel like the baby has got a bit bigger even over the last week or so, and when I move from one side to the other I kind of see and feel her sliding across to the other side 😄 A few nights ago she kept sticking out a knee or something, and I mean really sticking it out, so that kept me awake for a while. Getting out of bed is very awkward aswell, I have to kind of roll on to my side and push up with my arms but it's getting harder. I've seen a physio a couple of times for back and hip pain, not that it will stop the pain but she gave me some advice about using the birth ball, more comfortable positions for labour, etc. Trying to get off her couch thing the other day was a struggle, I just feel like every movement is so laborious just now. I last saw her on Wednesday, and I've been relatively ok walking around...the hip pain seems to ease off once I'm up out of bed. Well I don't know what happened yesterday but ever since then my left hip has been so painful whenever I put weight through it, and I'm limping and waddling around. Paracetamol doesn't seem to ease it off and it's so annoying. I wonder if it's sciatica since it's come on so suddenly, I've never had it before but it's like a sharp pain that kind of radiates through the hip joint and slightly around the back, so maybe it is sciatica...I feel like an old lady hobbling around 😟 The thought of another month like this is making me feel a bit fed up! Some of you have expressed feeling exactly the same way so I totally understand. Men really don't know how lucky they are...our bodies go through so many physical changes, and not to mention having to go through labour at the end of it too!
Oh and on Monday my dad tested positive for Covid, and today my mum did. I had been staying overnight with them a few times while my husband had been away in Canada (he got back yesterday which is nice, but it was also nice to have the house to myself for a little while! 😄) and I had dinner with them on Sunday too...I stayed on Sunday night actually, and my dad mentioned he wasn't feeling 100% but more like a sniffle. I left on Monday morning as I had work...then later that day he did a test and it was positive. So I've been a bit worried about catching it at this late stage, but so far thankfully I feel fine and am testing negative. Just an added worry though. Then I've been worrying about my parents getting long covid as they're in their 70s but both quite active, and are so looking forward to having a granddaughter, so if that happened it would be horrible...my dad seems to be improving though and hopefully my mum will be the same soon. At least it's happening now before the baby comes, so hopefully they'll both soon be fine.
@SamanthaVimes @NamelessBaby1 Thanks for confirming the name of the yellow nappy cream, a friend also recommended it, the consensus seems to be that it's one of, if not the best one, so I've bought 3 tubes to be going on with! 😊
@strawberrysummer19 Sorry to hear what you're going through with your painful skin/bump. It sounds so uncomfortable and I really hope it eases off soon. I've never experienced it but a few times I've had a little bit of discomfort around the belly button area, although it wasn't the outer skin, it was like the baby was pinching me from the inside or something, it wasn't a nice feeling! But only lasted maybe a minute or two. As others have suggested, maybe it's some kind of allergic reaction, maybe most likely to washing detergents if you've changed them recently or something. If you've also been feeling a bit anxious or stressed that can also cause skin reactions, everything seems to be so connected and probably even more so in pregnancy. I hope you get to the bottom of it and feel some relief before your baby arrives.
@ShellUK09 Thank you, yes it's encouraging that she's moving hopefully in the right direction! Although last night I seemed to feel something quite hard at the right hand side of my bump and I wondered maybe if it was her back and whether she had turned to the side, but hopefully not! It's amazing how the midwives can tell the baby's position and body parts just by feeling...they are all just lumps and bumps to me. I'm glad your growth scan went well, and that you got some cute photos! Is she still in the head down position? I hope so. Yes the centiles can be quite confusing, and maybe more of an estimate than 100% accurate. Yes I really hope our maternal instinct kicks in when our babies are born, everyone tells me it does anyway! I know what you mean about vaginal checks...I know that they have to be done sometimes but it was interesting when the midwife told me they aren't "routine". They would do them if they had to of course, but otherwise they seem to take more of a hands off approach, at least at my maternity unit, from what she said. I had a dentist check-up yesterday and my dentist and the assistant told me they both spent time in the pool and had water births, and that the water obviously doesn't take the pain away but they felt it definitely gives some relief and makes it feel more manageable. So I'm willing to give it a try...I also felt that if I'm in the water then I have a little more privacy aswell! If for whatever reason I don't like it I'll get out again, but as you say things don't always work out as we plan, and I'll just have to go with the flow whatever happens and yes things can be taken out of our hands. As long as our babies arrive safely is all that matters. Matalan clothes are nice, I have a few things from there too! I need to look through the new things I've bought, and I have some second hand clothes/vests/sleep suits which were hardly worn, and since the baby will only be in them for a short time I've tried to not buy too many new things of that type...but it's so hard to resist buying some because baby clothes are so cute! 😍 As others have said, it's so strange to look at the outfits and think that an actual baby will be wearing them soon! I've washed most of the second hand things but need to look through my new things and do the same at least with the smaller sizes for now. Hopefully now that I'm off work I'll be able to spend the time doing things like that, and getting a bit more organised.
@MollyRover It sounds like a very difficult situation with your DMIL and the way she is so irresponsible with things when looking after your DC1. Even if you haven't set any particular boundaries with how she behaves and rules, etc when looking after DC1, you'd think any sensible person would just recognise normal boundaries, like not giving 6 hotdogs as a snack or saying yes to everything....it's irresponsible and not a good example to set. It sounds like your DC1 is more sensible than her, telling her what's healthy/not healthy! She is causing you unnecessary stress that you don't need at this stage and it would be really sad if she made you feel so uncomfortable to leave DC1 with her while you're in labour, that your husband would need to stay home to look after them instead rather than be with you. It must be so frustrating for you 😣Did your husband manage to speak to her? Hopefully somehow she can see where you're coming from and try to improve her way of doing things, before your baby arrives.
@Danani I've bought a TENS machine to use in labour - I got the Elle TENS 2 one, it's supposed to count contractions aswell but I think the original Elle TENS is just as effective. I got a new one on ebay, just that the box was open but it was half the price of an actual new unopened one. I've read positive things about them, my dentist told me she also used one and it really helped (along with paracetamol in the earlier stage of labour). I think they recommend putting it on as early as possible when contractions start, as it makes it more effective. The one I have (and probably other maternity ones too) has a boost function and you can increase the intensity of the impulses during a contraction, which is supposed to help. I've never used a TENS machine but I thought it was worth having, just incase it does help relieve the pain a bit. I'm not sure if I'll use it for counting contractions....my midwife said to just note them down with pen and paper, but that means I need to calculate the time of each contraction and the time between them manually...which isn't a big deal under normal circumstances, but it feels like a faff when I'm going to be in labour, and maths is not my strong point at the best of times! I think I'd just get stressed doing that! My friend suggested the Freya app (from the company which does the green hypnobirthing book) and said it's really good and easy to use, although I think it costs £5 or so but might be worth it.
I've heard about raspberry leaf tea aswell but haven't bought any yet. I was looking at some on Amazon and I always have a habit of reading reviews, which sometimes put me off things! A few of the reviews said that some of the teabags have hibiscus in them which is apparently not good during pregnancy but I'm not sure why! Surely there's probably such a small amount though that it wouldn't do any harm but I suppose I'll have a look into it, and keep searching!
@KizboBaggins I got maternity pads in Superdrug, they had a buy one get one half price offer at the time too, although they weren't expensive to begin with. The review seem ok, so hopefully they'll do the job. I got some breast pads there aswell but Lansinoh are probably better! I'll Amazon them if the Superdrug ones aren't very good. I also saw maternity pads in Tesco the other day too if that helps. I know our branches won't be the same but hopefully you'll find them somewhere 🙂
Also I haven't felt my baby hiccuping regularly but I have on 2 occasions...it was like faint rhythmic pulses that didn't feel like the movement of limbs, and the pulses were quite equally spaced apart so I figured it must've been hiccups, I thought it was quite cute!
@deliwoman1 I think your ECV is today, how did it go? I was told I might need to have one as my baby was breech a few weeks ago, but apparently she is head down now but I'm still feeling lumps and bumps at the sides so I'm hoping the midwife has got it right! It will be interesting to hear about your experience and I hope the ECV will be a success, but as you say she could flip back again (hopefully not though). If you do the ECV and it doesn't work, then at least you'll know you've tried...I understand your concerns with having a c-section and having to delay trying for a second child, especially given the difficult road you've been on before this pregnancy. I'll be 40 in December and I think my husband would like to try for a second baby relatively soon, due to our ages. I wish you all the best for today and hope it has a positive outcome.
@JJ1992 My discharge also usually a yellowy colour when it dries (like quite a light yellow though) and more white when it's fresh (ha sorry, no easy way to explain it...), when I wipe it's clear though so it seems like it's normal, from what others have said too.
@missv556 My midwife told me the same thing, that from 37 weeks onwards the baby can come anytime! So one more week to go until then. As you said I wouldn't mind if she arrives a bit early with all this aching and tiredness. I wonder if we'll feel instantly lighter when our babies are born, getting rid of all the baby weight and fluid...it will be a relief!
Pedicure sounds like a nice idea! I've got a haircut arranged for a few weeks' time...my hairdresser usually comes to the house which will be a bit more comfortable. I had a pregnancy massage a few months ago, so was pondering whether to have another one for my aches and pains. The first one was nice but after a few days the aches came back again so it only really helped on the day. It is nice and relaxing though.
I'm not sure if anyone is looking for more free online classes, I've signed up for one, and also discovered a few free ones that might be handy, I haven't done them yet though but will watch them now that I'm off.
I'm doing this Blossom breastfeeding one next Saturday 18th, it's free and it has good reviews and I suppose the more knowledge the better, as breastfeeding is totally new to me!
www.blossomantenatal.com/breastfeeding-class
There's also this one
www.birthzang.co.uk/free-online-antenatal-class/
These Pampers ones
www.pampers.com/en-us/pregnancy/birthing-classes
And these too
www.babycentre.co.uk/e1042530/sign-up-for-free-antenatal-classes
They're all free so might not be anything amazing, but hopefully things can still be learned from them.
I've booked onto a paid class with Lets Talk Birth and Baby, for later this month...it's a baby sleep workshop and it was around £20. There are a few classes on there I fancy doing but it all adds up! The Bump to Baby Chapter website has quite a good looking post natal course too which is less than £40, so does the Positive Birth Company so I might do one of those. I can't do all of them though, but it's good to know what's out there 🙂