Due October 2023 Thread 8

[Chanteuse]

New thread for our October group - third trimester time!!

Fingers crossed for you @Flying12

@Esl17 @monsteramunch thanks ladies! It has moved woop woop! Now described as Posterior High which is great and baby boy weighing in at around 4lbs so on track. Was lovely to see him, not looking like there’s much more room in there anymore 😆😆

I saw the midwife today and she said if I had swelling which didn’t go down after putting my feet up for the evening to give them a call. So if I were you I’d contact them just to be on the safe side.

35 weeks tomorrow and almost finished packing mine and baby’s hospital bags! Think I’m almost sorted just wondering what snacks/drinks people are packing? Or any recommended by people who have been through labour before? Friend of mine recommended Lucozade but I hate it :(

Hi! I am started a couple of days ago and didn’t think much of it as been at work/on my feet a lot. Also it’s pitting so when I press my ankle an indent stays. My BP is okay and no protein in urine. Think I’m going to phone midwife’s tomorrow and see what they say.. hard to know whether normal or not

People that are on their second (or subsequent) babies, have you got everything out yet? I’m 36 weeks and feel like I should set everything up but I don’t want it sat out for weeks! My little girl didn’t come until 40+11!

I really couldn’t eat during my last labour but managed to shove down jelly babies and the flat lucozade sport. I also don’t like it, but treated it a bit like medicine and it worked to get him out when I had ketone’s in my urine and labour had slowed. It’s quite useful for birth partner too if they have been a bit distracted helping and not eaten/drank. I reckon any sugar/water electrolyte mix type drink would be good. I took mini cheddars/cereal bars which we did eat afterwards and a water bottle is handy during/afterwards. I remember something about a water bottle with a straw being good during labour but can’t remember why- it was a hypnobirthing thing I think.

I can’t decide whether to do this too, went over last time and pretty sure my dog will be in the Moses basket if it’s left out with no baby in it 😂

I liked the flat Lucazade too and sure there are other options if you don't like it - the sports bottles are good! I was very thirsty during my 2nd labour.

I remember having the dextrose energy tablets too but not having much appetite for food but maybe snacked on some Eat Natural type cereal bars.

Agree to make sure your birth partner has snacks too, you're in a funny bubble and lose concept of time a bit so my DH nearly passed out by the time I was nearly pushing, my Mum (who was working in the hospital) had to come and bring him some food 🙄

I'm second timer here, the nursery is pretty much there but I'm definitely a lot more chilled about this time round.
Bags will finish being packed this weekend, I'm 34 weeks on Tuesday. That's when I got everything ready for last time.
I drank about 3 of those Lucozade sports last time, I do like them though. Couldn't face eating anything though.... I think I last ate at midday then DD was born at 22:00! So somehow survived that!
Made sure DH took food though as he gets Hangry so think I was more worried about him lol

@HVHT @ES1986 thank you for your advice. I called the hospital this morning because minor swelling is still there and was told it is normal. As long it is equal on both sides and no other symptoms. I have issues with water consumption throughout pregnancy, I just cannot drink enough so I will really push myself to do better. But first, a walk outside to get my blood circulation going. The baby's been kicking the whole morning and it is time now to lull him to sleep :)

Morning all 👋
Dropping back in after totally missing the whole of the last thread.
33+5 with 2nd baby. Nursery pretty much there now. I think once LB starts preschool this week I'll get abit more organised with sorting through babies things.
Plan is to still work 3.5days a week until 13th Oct, due date 24th Oct.
I feel like I've still got ages left compared to some of you 🙃 xx

35 weeks today with second baby. Yes got everything out but it's in piles in the spare room so need to go through it all, sort what we're keeping, wash it etc. I feel so disorganised compared to some of you! 😬

Anyone else seen the weather forecast for this week and think it can F off? 😆 Utterly dreading the heat especially with work 😭

@Summer022 looks vile doesn’t it!! Dreading it in work, definitely no air con in my workplace! I can feel my ankles swelling tomorrow already!

We’re at the point now where we have to be careful I think as any time off they can force us into early maternity? So got to soldier it.

I had my 32 week growth scan on Friday and the baby is off the scale on everything - weighs approximately 6lbs 10oz already. They predicted it to be around 9lbs 7oz at birth but said they give or take a lb either way.

I was a big baby and am scarred from all the comments I had about it growing up. I've had a lifetime of body dysmorphia and had an eating disorder from about 11-25 years.

I'm seeing the consultant tomorrow and am wanting to ask if I can have it at 37 weeks so it won't be so big. I find all the talk of having a big baby really triggering and also when people say things about my bump (even though I'm not actually that big).

Am I within my rights to ask about having it early and mention how it's triggering me or do you think it'd be flagged as a safeguarding thing and they'll think I'll project these thoughts onto my child?

I want to be honest with them but I don't want to raise any red flags.

@Onethingiwantfor23 this sounds very similar to my first pregnancy, my daughter did end up big at 9lb10oz. I was offered an induction at 38 weeks which I agreed to. Sadly ended up with a section after getting to fully dilated and then progression stopped. I was disappointed at the time, but in hindsight I wouldn't be induced in this scenario again, I think the extra stress prevented my body doing what it needed to do.

This time round I'm having an elective section at 38 weeks. I've had to push for 38 weeks as they want all electives to be at 39 as thats when they get the best outcome. So basically going against consultant advice, I've been told about all the studies showing obesity, autism etc is more likely in children born by section before 39 weeks etc... You may not have the same fight as I seem to get a different reaction from each consultant I've seen (my named consultant is never working, I've not actually met her), but each has mentioned risks. I think you may struggle asking for 37 weeks with no medical need. But I don't think they'd raise it as a safeguarding issue.

@Onethingiwantfor23 it’s worth a conversation with your consultant (or whoever you get to see). I’ve found mine quite understanding of my anxiety (around c section/hospital stays after previous bad experience after an injury). You could also try and talk to someone, a psychotherapist or similar to discuss your concerns so that the size of the baby doesn’t overshadow the rest of the experience for you.

It does seem strange how we announce the baby’s weight when it’s born - it seems a strange thing to do really. Could you make the decision to not announce it? Or just round down to the nearest lb if people push for it?

@OrionNebula you're more organised than me so don't worry! I'm only 32+4 but I feel like I've had very little time to sort anything so I think piles in the spare room is a great start. Hoping to get to that point soon!

@Onethingiwantfor23 no real advice but just wanted to say I'm sorry you're feeling like that, and I hope you find a helpful consultant to talk it through with. I was told at every scan my first was big, and he was 8lb 14 so definitely not small but not as big as some of the predictions if that helps at all. Now he's a very happy and healthy 3 year old and genuinely would have no idea which of his friends were "small" or "big" babies.

@Summer022 currently sat with my feet in a bowl of cold water! Defo helps but not something you can do in the middle of work 😂

Don't forget to stay hydrated ladies, dehydration reduces amniotic fluid levels, which can lead to feeling reduced movements!

@Onethingiwantfor23 I’ve recently had a growth scan, and they think my little boy is 7lb11 right now (had growth scan at 34+3, am now 35)

I’m going to ask for a section, unless I go into natural labour before that as I don’t want to be induced and I don’t want interventions such as forceps etc. They do them at 39 weeks in my trust, but I’m secretly hoping for a 38+5 more than a 39+5 😂

@Ss32 I’m 32 weeks and haven’t got anything out from first baby yet 😬 I’m so much more laid back this time around and keep even forgetting that we need to buy another car seat!

Have been organised with my hospital bag though and nearly there with that except from labour snacks/drinks.

I think I’d really like a 360 car seat this time round. Anybody got any recommendations for one that would last a long time?

34 weeks and planning my birth bag now. For those who have been there, what sort of snacks do you recommend for labour/post-labour? I've seen lots of recs for energy drinks, what else has helped?

Had my 34 wk apt today and little one is measuring slightly smaller than before so growth scan booked in for tomorrow - I’m not massively surprised because when we last did Fundal growth I felt like it was a bit rushed and the measurement felt like a big jump from the scan size. Am starting on Ferrous Sulphate for my iron levels since I’m borderline for Anaemia, has anyone else had these? Final NCT class tonight, which feels utterly mad! God knows how we’ll cope for 3 hours in this heat!

32+3 today and first growth scan because of low Papp-a, baby boy estimated 5lb 1 already but they want to rule out GD because of big abdomen 🤦🏽‍♀️😂 another growth scan in two weeks so can keep an eye to see if this is just how our baby is growing or any other reasons behind it. But glad low Papp-a doesn't seem to be restricting his growth!