Due September 2022 (Thread 7!)

[HaresHoping]

Hiya everyone,

Just starting a new thread for when we need it as thread 6 is almost full! ☺️

@madeleine85 if it helps, I think you look great going by your FB picture! Hope the tightenings and boob twinges ease off, good that you have the scan on Friday though, not long!

@TurquoiseDreamCatcher yes I've been having breathlessness, iron levels are fine, but it can be common in the third trimester as the baby gets bigger and pushes against your diaphragm

@madeleine85 this is my second pregnancy. My last pregnancy I had a bump but it was not big!! My little girl was born 6lb 8 full term at 40'weeks. Some people just grow small babies. Im same this time round too. Small round bump. Don't worry and ignore what people say! What was your bump like with your first?

My little one is breech too!! I'm having a planned c section so not too worried. Plenty of time for them to move. Iv a scan at 32 weeks. Looking forward to knowing the approx weight.

@Butterflytulip that is reassuring to hear, thank you! My DD was out by 34.5 weeks, but was measuring around low 20% in the third trimester, she came in just under 5lbs when born. I think by around 34 weeks i'd started losing weight rather than gaining. The doctor did recently ask how my measurements were for my last one, so maybe it is just genetics. For my current pregnancy, I was told at the 20 weeks scan that he was very average in size (which I was so happy about), but the fundal measurements are coming back small now, a few doctors have commented, and i'm feeling like he is smaller too. Ultimately the scan on Friday will know much better than a piece of tape, so I just have to cross my fingers and wait. I just really feel like in the third trimester my appetite tails off completely, and growth just stops, which is really frustrating. My DH then takes it upon himself to be a "feeder" and demand real meals for the baby, when my stomach is the size of a pea at the moment! I'm only 5'2 and my DH is 5'9, so no giants around. Ironically my DD is 2.5 and wears 4 year old clothes, she is so tall compared to us.

Thanks @annlee3817 , are you getting out tomorrow? Hope so! I think you mentioned that you have an older child too? You must be dying to get home to them (or maybe enjoying a break) not that a shared ward is really a break though!

I'm home, my older one is fast asleep, looking forward to waking her up in the morning, lol, yes I've missed her, she's not liked me being in hospital and has been worrying.

GTT test next week as can't have it until seven days after the steroids as they'll throw up a positive result, then next scan in three weeks

Sounds like it's just genetics @madeleine85 glad you have the scan on Friday. 🤞

@annlee3817 very glad you are home and resting. I think being away from my DD is one of my biggest concerns about things going wrong at this stage. That seems like a really late GTT test, hope you pass it, but if not, at least there really isn't long to go at all now!

@madeleine85 yes she said it's late, but with the steroids not much choice, I don't think I actually have it though as am not symptomatic

I think different people do show and measure really differently. I measured as having a relatively big bump last time round, then DD was under 5lb. I've definitely known people who were the other way round and had small bumps and large babies.

I think I feel like baby is bigger this time round, even though they keep fussing about the growth. I know it's unfair to describe perfectly reasonable medical concerns as fussing, but to some extent I'm just so fed up of the constant scanning and measuring now! I just found out I'll probably need to go to the bigger hospital for all my scans now, so that's a three hour round trip every time I have one - to say nothing of the cost of fuel nowadays. Still, with delivery planned to most likely be at 37 weeks, I've presumably only got 3 left (32, 34, 36 weeks). Baby will probably start growing now I've said that, and they'll decide there's no need to get it out before 40 weeks!

Anyone else had morning sickness all the way through I wish it will do one now not one day off of it this week I am probably going to get accused of dieting again when I get weighed at my scan on Saturday not sure which arse cheek the weight loss is coming from I am the size of a house and she is going to be tiny 🙈😂 xx

@annlee3817 I have GD and totally non symptomatic too! Hopefully not the case for you. It's not so bad tho and not long to go now.

@110APiccadilly what a pain in the ass! Although bigger hospital might be better in terms of care?? So hard to know these days. We are just going to the same hospital as last time so fingers crossed it's as smooth as last time! Just hoping I get out after 1 night and not 2 this time!!! I'm having a planned c section but it's my second baby so I'll beg to go home asap!!

Iv already contacted a breast feeding consultant. They charge £85 for 90 minutes. I was thinking of going to see her the day I'm home or day after for support and guidance. Couldn't manage it last time the latch wasn't good and little one was screaming for food so we resorted to bottles. Happy to do that but Bf would save on all the time dealing with sterilising and making up bottles.

Ah sorry you've had it all the way through @Sweetbabydust1989 that must be so shit :(

@110APiccadilly hope the scans go ok, I know what you mean though, they are notorious for being wrong, but understand the caution.

They couldn't get me in for my GTT test until next weekend, we're meant to be away camping in Norfolk, which is 2 1/2 hours away, and don't know what to do for the best :( got the test moved to the Sunday and we were meant to be going Thursday to Sunday, but I can dial back to two nights if needed or go Wednesday after school and still do three, but worried about going into prem labour and being stuck in Norfolk NICU away from home, the test was low risk for labour being imminent, but still can't help but worry with the soft cervix

@Butterflytulip that sounds like a good price, hope it helps, I was lucky as the support here was pretty good in the first few weeks and.i stayed in hospital for the first night for help with feeding, don't think I'd have managed as well without

@annlee3817 iam honestly done with the sickness I was taking my son to school and needed to throw up so badly but held it in until I got home 🙈 I think my bump might have dropped a little in the last couple of days it looks so low now xx

@Butterflytulip most people love and swear by the lactation consultants, so if you want to breastfeed then that sounds like a great idea. I'm personally a bit put off by them after a bad experience. With my DD, I had just given birth, she was in the NICU, so I was in the post delivery room, and one came in and started grabbing my boobs and telling me I had to pump right then and there, checking I was expressing etc (this is in the US so not UK care). I was so shocked and taken aback. The hospital was so heavily focused on breastfeeding that they weren't going to let my DD home (after 18 days already in the NICU) until she latched, and by then I was exclusively pumping, she was taking bottles, I couldn't have cared less as long as she was eating, and I just wanted her home. I plan to exclusively pump again this time, as I know what i'm doing and i'm comfortable with it, and I have anxiety building over the hospital trying to tell me how to latch/being judged if I say I want to express from the get go. It is my own fear, but it was just such a horrible experience the last time. No one asked me what I wanted to do, they told me what I was going to do, and it was really upsetting. So basically, to anyone reading, I strongly advocate "fed is best". However you feel comfortable with your body and doing it.

@Sweetbabydust1989 not long to go now! My sister had it the whole way through and was pretty much depressed at the end. You're so nearly there!

@madeleine85 oh I am so excited to meet her especially after my ectopics last year this is a small price to pay to get my little Princess 😍 have you had chronic back pain I think her laying on my spine is starting to make my back worse I think I need a support belt again xx

@Sweetbabydust1989 I've had back pain on/off, it seems to get really bad when i'm in bed now, last night I slept on the couch, which makes a change to my DH being out there! I just read that pelvic tilts are something we should be doing to help, my doctor recommended an epsom salt bath to help too, though right now i'm working from my spare bed with a hot water bottle on my back, so basically just try it all! I do not remember any of this from my DD (probably a good thing or there wouldn't be a second one)!

@madeleine85 Wow, I had the total opposite experience (Uk)! I was putting her on the boob and saying to the midwives I don’t think anything is happening, I don’t think she’s getting anything. Only to be told yeah it’s all fine multiple times. My community midwife visits me 2 days after she’s born and says she’s not latching properly and she’s likely not had anything in those 2 days. She told us to get the bottles out and feed her formula every 2 hours. We had to write everything she had down and how many dirty nappies and txt her with it. She was really concerned and we nearly ended up back in hospital because of it. I did express for a little while but it wasn’t for me. I’m wary of breast feeding this time, as with my anxiety I think I need to see what baby is getting and you can’t do that with breast feeding. Might express for a little while again. I hate how pushy they are about breast feeding, I get it that there’s lots of benefits but it’s just not for some people.

@Em85kk that is really scary as well, i'm so glad that you had a good midwife who was able to check properly and get you all sorted quickly at home! I think that is also part of my reason for wanting to pump and bottle feed, is that you know how much they are actually eating, so there is no guessing game. Bottle feeding in the NICU at least gave a sense of knowing, and that was reassuring, so I think i'd really find the normal BF approach nervewracking, but that is just me :)

@TurquoiseDreamCatcher I have been breathless throughout, it was actually one of my first ever symptoms!

I am on iron tablets as of this week.

Also due September, any one’s emotions getting the better of them? Crying for no reason or very small things that happen. Feeling very sorry for myself the last 2 days!

@Stepmum94 my emotions got the better of me and I started crying in the middle of a very long wait in the antenatal clinic today - didn't help that I was tired, had had an early start, and it was lunchtime! The midwives were very kind about it (and offered me tea and sandwiches) but I did feel like an idiot.

This sounds like something that would happen to me, I’m also being very stroppy with my husband haha

Ahh the third trimester weepies :). I was walking around a supermarket infant/toddler section earlier this week and almost lost it for no reason at all. Hormones. Are. Great.

I cry at everything at the moment.

I'm feeling very abnormal, as I haven't really cried this pregnancy.... I've had a few moments where I've welled up, but it doesn't really amount to much else. Last pregnancy I was an emotional wreck!