Due May 2023 - thread two

[Flowersflowers121]

Hiiii everyone. Thread two as the first one filled up :)

Anyone had just little random off days? Nothing in particular just feel like my tummy is so tight and stretching a lot and just feeling a little overwhelmed and under prepared for what's ahead.

Is anyone here doing NHS antenatal classes? I mentioned a week ago to my midwife that I would like to be booked onto a course, and she said she'd forward my name but I haven't heard anything yet. I'm 26+5 so wondering if I need to chase this up or do you think they will contact me? Don't have a phone contact for midwife apart from my local surgery and she's only there 1 day a week. It all seems a bit antiquated at the local trust.

Just catching up..

@Awkwardusername @OptimusPrime31 @wintersun21 @i83 I wouldn’t worry too much. When our first baby was born the health visitor came over and our dog was bouncy and excitable, he even brought her shoe from where she’d taken them off the front door into the lounge where we were chatting and tried chewing it, I was mortified but she just laughed and luckily she was a dog person and started telling us all about her own. As others suggested, a walk and an engaging toy will probably help but don’t stress about it. I don’t think the health visitor would worry too much! Just try not to let the dog lick the baby if they are the licky type.

@raffika I was super emotional last weekend and got very upset and very ragey. It felt like bad PMS! Seems to have settled down a bit now but I’m sure I’ll have more hormonal outbursts to come! All part of it, don’t beat yourself up.

@i83 I have my 1st growth scan and consultant appt next week as I have low PAPP-A so potentially could have a small baby. As @ru53said, try not to worry as the growth scans are notorious for being v inaccurate. At least you’ll get extra scans and being closely monitored.

@alwaystryingtohelp So glad everything was fine and you definitely did the right thing, it’s never ever a waste of time to be sure!

Is anyone else having trouble breathing?

It started off just at night and I was managing with nose strips. Then those stopped working and DP says I was snoring a lot and now I sound like I'm choking sometimes.

I'm now struggling to breathing in the day as well, my nasal passages and airways feel pretty narrow.

I've never had breathing issues in my life so this is pretty scary and upsetting. I'm tired all the time, which I thought was just pregnancy tiredness but after going down a Google rabbit hole I'm worried it could be sleep apnea?!

I'll mention it to the midwife next week but just wondering if anyone's experiencing anything similar?

@TheBeesKnee congestion is very common when pregnant, I struggle with it too. It'a been relentless for the past few weeks. Just saw a tip to put raw onion under your bed, I plan to try it, because I'm desperate at this point...

Another thing: Are you sleeping on your back? This might restrict a major blood vessel which could cut off oxygen to your brain. It doesn't sound like your issue, but I just wanted to mention it in case it was a factor.

I do end up on my back throughout the night but I'm also having these issues while on my side.

I've got a pregnancy pillow and a wedge to try and keep me off my back but that's been a battle in itself.

Anyone got any thoughts about inductions? I’m keen to avoid if I can but I’m worried I’ll get to the later and end up agreeing to one just because I’m so eager to meet baby!

@Awkwardusername better if you can avoid, but if a medical professional recommended it to me I'd probably accept. 🤷‍♀️ I don't have any strong preferences about birth except for it to be as safe as possible given whatever happens so inclined to trust medical professionals on what that is. I know some people do have strong views about the desirability of induction, interventions, etc, though.

@Melusina123 I’m finding it hard because I’m so adamant that I will just do what the medical professionals tell me, but I know so many women who’ve been offered inductions for really vague reasons so it feels a bit like it’s just something they do (in my trust anyway!) which has me in two minds as I want to keep baby in there as long as safely possible really (although that might take me into June and I’ll be on the wrong thread!) but also I’m so keen to meet them!

@Awkwardusername i had an induction for my first (thought I had to and couldn’t say no) and it went fine but I’ve been following thegreenmidwife on Instagram and she has a lot of useful pro and con information about inductions.
also if you feel pressured into saying yes you can always change your mind and say no after.
i had an induction because my waters broke early and they were worried about infection risks but after research apparently that risk is actually quite low! My induction was very straight forward and my total labour time was 40mins about 4 hours after being induced and only used gas and air.
I’m not sure what I would do now with baby number 2 but I would definitely just ask for time to think about it and the exact reasons they would want to induce maybe!

@Awkwardusername I'm more comfortable with the idea of induction if my body has started labour in some way, so waters breaking, already a little dilated etc. so it's helping it on its way if you like. I'm pretty against it (at the moment) if there is no sign of labour starting, it feels unnatural to force my body to be doing something when it's clearly not ready!

Definitely ask questions and understand the risks, benefits and alternatives available, as @Firefly89 mentioned. I've been reading a hypnobirthing book and it's been making it really clear that YOU make the decisions on what happens, and gives a framework to help think things through. I've found it helpful and empowering

Out of interest, how much weight he has everyone gained so far?

@Janch13 I think about 12kgs. Combination of a serious chocolate habit and my boobs really overperforming on the growth front (started as a 30H, now a 32JJ). I'm usually in "normal" BMI range so probably going to gain a bit more than "recommended".

So far less than 1lb - :/

@Irishgirl55 oh wow, is that because you haven’t been feeling well?

I have gained 13lbs, just wondering if this is in line with the majority. I only gained 1 stone in my last pregnancy, but admittedly I have been really over indulging throughout my whole 2nd trimester (obvs it was Christmas and then I didn’t really stop 🙈) but I’m going to reign it in now I am in my 3rd.

@Janch13 Just not eating as much as pre pregnancy - Get full much quicker. I didn't put on much in last pregnancy either.

Have a midwife appointment this week so hopefully my lack of weight gain is ok.

@Irishgirl55 I’m sure it’s OK for baby as he/she will be taking everything they need from your intake, it’s you that will be going without. I’d just make sure you’re taking a pregnancy supplement to ensure baby is getting all the essential vitamins, etc. There’s not much more you can do and not worth forcing yourself to eat if you don’t feel like it. Let us know what they say though, I’m interested to know as you’re the first person I’ve encountered that’s not gained at all!

I've gained 9 pounds at 28 weeks 😊 Christmas definitely didn't help and I find I'm hungry ALL THE TIME now so trying to choose healthy snacks... I started at the heavier end of normal BMI so according to Google, have less to gain, if that makes sense.

I haven’t weighed myself, but I haven’t been told off by anyone yet, so I’m taking that as a good sign 🤣

Has anyone had the hideous cold that seems to be doing the round? I’m on day 6, and still snotty, coughing, breathless - I’ve coughed so much my chest hurts, and I feel sorry for the baby, who seems to wake up everytime I have a coughing fit.

Sorry to moan, but feeling very sorry for myself! On the plus side, haven’t done any crying for a few days!

I've gained 22/23lbs but I was quite underweight pre pregnancy

I have gained 8 kilos since becoming pregnant.

At my 28 week appointment today my bump measured big/a week ahead (90th percentile) so they're going to make me track my blood sugar for 2 weeks. Apparently this means taking blood before and after EVERY MEAL 😭

I'm also a little bit swollen but no other diabetes or preeclampsia symptoms.

I've also been advised to go see the GP about my snoring, especially as I've started struggling to breathe a little bit in the day as well.

And I've probably got thrush somehow.

Can't seem to catch a break 😳

I've only gained 4 - 5 pounds with twins so far but I did lose over a stone in my first trimester so I've kind of evened out.

We're having issues here with growth discordance and placental insufficiency so I'm at hospital a lot. Just really hoping I can limp on at least to 32 weeks but all my bags are packed.

Pregnancy has not been fun so far.

I'm sorry to hear that @Myotherusernameisaferrari - are you still having to work too?

I'm actually not sure how much I've gained. Haven't been weighed since booking. I think probably 10kg.

I ended up at hospital for reduced movements on Sunday then of course they started moving the second I was hooked up to the monitors 🙄

I am nearly 30 weeks now gained 10KG (BMI 21 to start with). TBH I dont really understand how because I have been very active still walking 15K steps minimum a day + cycling + eating exactly same diet as before pregnancy. Already tested negative for GD, ICP (had a rash). I am going to try really hard to control myself last month so baby isnt massive!

@IWillBeWaxingAnOwl mine did that the other week. Quiet all day then as soon as they were on the monitors they went absolutely bananas, probably the most movement I've had in any 15 minute window so far. But I was still glad I went, just to be safe.

@Myotherusernameisaferrari that sounds tough. Fingers crossed you make it to 32 weeks. How much longer is that now?