Due May 2023 - thread two

[Flowersflowers121]

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

I weighed myself at 14 weeks and was really upset to have put on 5kg which was all bum/thighs, so I haven't weighed myself since! I've had a lot of weight issues growing up but been in a good place for the last few years so I'm finding it easier to not look at the scales.

@Luk Dont feel bad and I agree, if it’s only going to cause upset then you’re better off not weighing yourself. 💐 Don’t be hard on yourself, your body is doing something amazing!

Totally TMI but last couple of days I’ve had a really weird feeling down there… it’s like my vagina feels really heavy and “full” (can’t think of a better discriptive word!), and almost aches! It kind of comes and goes, anyone else have anything like this?? I think it might just be the position of the baby but it’s weird and I don’t remember feeling this during my first pregnancy.

Anyone like to share their bumps?

This is my 30 weeks bump with my second - although many strangers are telling me ‘you must be due soon’.. 😅 Nope.. just carry big apparently..

@Janch13 my vagina area went numb the other day but only very temporarily, I had been sat a bit funny on my coccyx so I think that’s why!

A possible TMI alert here, but I’ve noticed recently that my nipples quite often have a sort of whiteish crusty layer on them? They’re not itchy or smelly or anything, and it doesn’t come off particularly easily! I haven’t squeezed them or anything (as I find touching my nipples gag inducing - a great start I know!) so I’m not sure if it’s leaking or dry skin or something else! It doesn’t look like dry skin!
Anyone got any ideas?

@Awkwardusername I think it's the normal start of milk/colostrum development? Eg tiny leaks from the ducts. They advise you don't stimulate or try to collect until much later as can trigger labour preterm

Has anyone else been told that their baby is measuring small? They want us back in three weeks for another growth scan. X

@wonderfulworld33 my friend was told her baby was measuring small - she is very petite, but they don’t take account of that, they just work to averages. We’ve been told our baby is measuring a bit big, about a week ahead, so we’re also back for a growth scan in 3 weeks. I really don’t think it’s anything to worry about, healthy babies come in all shapes and sizes.

That's good to know.
It was a bit of a surprise as we are both tall (but slim) but babies femurs were measuring below average at 28 weeks but fine on 20 week scan. Hopefully they will catch up!
I thought with everything I have been eating that baby would be huge

@Awkwardusername i have had the same! It’s colostrum x

@wonderfulworld33 I’m have growth scans due to low PAPP-A, baby is tracking the 32nd centile which consultant is happy with. My 1st baby was 90th so never expected to have small one! Did they tell you what centile your baby is on? Also, they can be hugely inaccurate, our consultant said they are often 15-20% out either way, which is a lot! So try not to worry, especially at this stage as growth can catch up especially in the last trimester x

I've randomly received appts for growth scans at 32 and 36 weeks but no idea why?! Midwife at 28wk appt didn't say anything about it. Fundal height was normal. I thought I was green pathway 🤔. Hate when you get these letters at weekends!

Sorry it's been a manic week. Thank you to the kind comments and those who asked! I'm 28 weeks currently and yes still working. We're on weekly scans and a super low threshold for going in to be checked - even something as simple as they're moving but less energetic. Our worrying twin is described as struggling which is hard but I'm actually quite glad for the honesty and understanding the risk.

@Awkwardusername I've got that as well - I think yes to leaking although mine are also itchy and I think dry!!

No, I just got measured at 28weeks and the bump is about the 60% percentile on the graph. I do have a scan at 32weeks but it’s for the placenta position.

@Blue2020 my bump was about the same, placenta is high posterior so no idea whatsoever what has led to these scan appts.

Has anyone been following this whole gas and air thing? What are your thoughts?

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/02/26/gas-air-suspended-hospitals-expecting-mothers/

@IWillBeWaxingAnOwl might be worth phoning and asking - try not to worry, it may be something as simple as a mistake!

This is the first I am hearing of this, I hope my hospital doesn’t restrict use of it, I found it really effective in my first birth although I was also having anti sickness injections throughout my labour as I was SO sick in the early stages. Some people have reported it made them feel nauseous, I found it gave me the uber relaxed feeling of a couple of glasses of wine and really took the edge off the pain.

@wonderfulworld33 I know it’s not the same but my last midwife appointment she measured the fundal height as being over 98th percentile. I had a growth scan a few days later and everything is fine, baby is measuring above the average line but not big enough to be a concern. My first born was 6lbs 3oz when he was born a month early so I must just not have small babies. I have another growth scan coming up - I suppose they like to keep an eye on it if there’s been a measure of small/big!

@Flowersflowers121 my hospital has announced they have banned gas and air, to be reviewed until they aim to find a way to ventilate the rooms, i suppose. It has caused uproar in the community but I understand they need to keep their staff safe. I don’t feel any certain way about it at the moment, as I had an EMCS with my first and the only time I’ve ever used gas and air was for a colonoscopy and I wasn’t a fan of it anyway. I want to birth as natural as possible for me but gas and air would have been my first option before any harder drugs. However, things could change before my due date and if not, not much I can do then just get through it!

Also, I have a crazy active baby but has anyone else felt movements that feel like they’re vibrating in there? It’s such a strange feeling which I didn’t have with my first. I’ve googled it and it seems normal. It feels like.. when you have a good stretch and get that leg shake.. maybe that? Is the best way I can describe it 🤣 Also, have been sleeping and feeling well up until the last few days. Sleep is now being affected and I’m suddenly really tired all the time again! Despite being on iron twice a day!

I think it's fair enough, but my partner works in the NHS and you can see the toll it's having on his health to do night shifts so I may be a bit more sympathetic from that perspective.

They need to ensure that there is enough staff and will available to provide alternative pain relief - I've heard far too many stories of women being strung along and denied pain relief until it's too late. It's chilling enough without the one crutch (G&A) that was available also being taken away.

Is anyone else struggling to get comfortable? I’m 28 weeks and feel like either my back or my sides or my bump are hurting or else I can’t breathe 😅 it’s constant and it’s driving me mad!

@Northby me 🙋‍♀️ I'm at 30 weeks and it's getting so tough! Not sure how I'm a gonna manage the last 10 😂

@Leostratts yes! It's like a tremor! I expected kicks and movement but not vibrations. I'm asking my midwife about it but itl probably be because they're moving against a nerve or something. I'm trying not to worry but I worry about everything now!

@Flowersflowers121 i had no idea this was a thing! Thanks for updating me. Hopefully my hospital will still be offering it come May! Obviously if its harming staff then it should be stopped until a solution is found but I don't understand what the risks are to the staff. It just talks about exposure.

@Leostratts @OptimusPrime31 I'm also getting it! Very weird sometimes feels more towards the butt which is such an odd feeling! I asked my consultant today and she said it's likely just hitting a nerve and it's very normal

OptimusPrime31

Long term exposure causes nerve damage and infertility. I can't imagine how heart breaking it would be to deliver 1000 babies and then find out you can't have your own because you've been exposed to an unsafe working environment. I had no idea it was so dangerous.

Nitrous oxide pools and gathers on the floor, so without proper ventilation and air purification it seems to just stay there.