Due December 2023 Part 5

[Nclktnntt]

Starting Due December 2023 Part 5

I can't believe how many of you are getting comments like that! People are just the worst sometimes. Luckily I've not had anyone say anything (and hope I don't as I continue), my mom just says 'awww' everytime she sees my bump and tells me it's gotten bigger in the few days since she last saw me 😂 no doubt next time will be true though as it'll be a month wince I see her again due to holidays.

Im ok in this heat but I do have a portable aircon unit at both my salon and here at home so even though the room thinks it's 25 deg in here today - it's probably closer to 21/21, I like to be warm though. I need to mow the lawn today, but I'll wait until the suns gone down before I do I think. Swelling hasn't happened in this heat but I do get it after a days work (standing) and also when I was in Italy back at week 13 in the 36deg heat, I got really swollen feet then. Hoping when im in Hawaii in just over a weeks time my body handles the heat better - wishful thinking though im sure as it's around the 30 mark there with lows of 26.

@Cowlover89 do you have a pregnancy pillow? I also found this that might help - www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/media/313nobgt/physio-hip-pain-in-pregnancy-gtps_nov21.pdf
I am getting really bad achy hips the last couple nights , even with my pillow and it's my ITB bands so I'm starting to do more strengthening and stretching exercises to help with that as they super tight which isn't helping with the pain and also with my hips when I'm having to stand at work.

@Nclktnntt Hawaii sounds amazing! Is that a babymoon?

@Nclktnntt Hawaii?! Wow, wow, wow - it’s on my bucket list. Will you please update us about what a wonderful time you’re having? Even post a pic or two of the beach? I hope you have an incredible time.

We’ve booked the Dominican Republic for next July for my partner’s 40th. It’s a fabulous hotel, really family friendly. We’ll have a 14 year old, 5 year old and 7 month old. Dreading the flight and time difference and jet lag with 7 month old! But I figured go next year whilst she’s young and not walking? Anyone done long haul with a baby?

Its kinda turned into our honeymoon (married 6 years this October and not had a honeymoon yet) baby moon and also making the most of being that way over given the chances will be slim anytime soon again lol.

We're headed to Seattle side of America for a friends wedding in Stevenson, wed coming to the sat, then Sunday headed to Hawaii Lihue for a week and will be visiting all the beaches (or most) then headed to Seattle for a week before heading back home.

Last time I went to America we went the west coast and jet lag wasn't so bad going but kicked my arse coming back, so I'm not looking forward to when we return being pregnant and jet lagged but I'll live I'm sure 😂

I'll share pics of course 🥰

@Nclktnntt Seattle is also on my bucket list, desperately want to go! Would do an Alaskan Cruise whilst there too. Then I remember i’m soon to be a mum of 3 so chances are slim anytime soon 🤣

I took my daughter (13) To New Hampshire, Boston and Salem last October. We got a fantastic deal. That was absolutely magical. Because she was an only child for 9.5 years, I still like to do things on occasion just the two of us.

The London commute today was not nice! Sweaty jubilee line definitely feels worse pregnant! No one seems to care about the badge either and it’s my first day wearing it, I was expecting too much i think 😂🙄

@smldnlove oh my life, London is not a fun commute under normal circumstances but in this heat and pregnant 😳 people don't look around themselves most of the time.

@VillageFete that's where our friend lives (the one getting married). I only wanna go to Seattle itself because of greys anatomy 😂😂

Ohhh Thats sounds amazing, extra special for her too I bet. I just googled Alaskan cruise, looks amazing but sadly our budget can't stretch any further sadly, so now that's added to my bucket list for if we manage to go over again in the future lol

@Nclktnntt How amazing! I hope you have a great time out in Seattle and Hawaii, have a mocktail or two for us all when you're out on the beach would you!🏖🍹

@smldnlove I feel for you commuting on the tube. I do not miss that part of living in London. It used to anger me seeing a pregnant woman being ignored/not offered a seat, or not even given space to breathe. I was one of those who would shout across the carriage asking if the lady would like to sit down so that somone sitting down would look up and notice, but some people are selfish and chosse to ignore.
I hope you have a better commute going forward.

I take back my 'its not been too bad this heat for me' - last night I woke in a ball of sweat 2 hours after going to sleep. Granted I was under the blanket but I normally am (I'm always colder than the rest of the world apparently 😂) but when I get hot, I over heat. I got back to sleep but I've never woke up sweating ever!

My hips (itb band) are also getting really achy when I'm sleeping, my pillow helps and I put it under my bump to help with the weight, but I was saying to my husband this morning that I just don't get it - I'm a side sleeper, it's the leg I'm normally lying on, and although I have a bump, it's not that big compared to the next few months! but I've woke myself up 3 mornings in a row now saying 'oh fuck fuck fuck' and they're they're both kicking off, my husbands helps by digging in and rubbing the area but it takes a while to calm. I hope the beds are good where we go because mines a good mattress and I'm still getting it. I'm taking my pillow with me 😂 it's my hand luggage lol.

@Nclktnntt I take my pillow with me whenever I'm staying away and took it as well as a back pack on an Easyjet flight which was fine.

I've woken up twice in the last week with calf cramp! On top of being hot, uncomfortable, peeing multiple times a night it's just another thing that is causing havoc with my sleep. I haven't slept well at all being pregnant - I guess I'm getting prepared for new born life!

Sorry to hear about those suffering with the heat. It’s tough indeed! Last night I felt so overwhelmed by just being pregnant and all the changes that are coming and not knowing what to expect and I was just crying and crying. Feeling more positive this morning but wow that was hard. We can do this 💪💪

@bookbathnap I feel you felt really overwhelmed yesterday and been sick all week and not sleeping and this heat can do one. Normally I'd like it to be sunny as its my birthday soon but nope I want rain and coldness lol
Been off work all week as just can't deal with sitting in my flat on laptop trying to concentrate on work at all feel bad as have basically extended my annual leave to 2 weeks but need to do what's best for me

Hi ladies, hope you are doing well. Gosh I am getting soooo big, I already look like I am at the 40 week point! Defiantly wasn't this big with my first.

I am drafting my c-section birth plan and I have seen some templates online and a lot are mentioning to not give newborn baby eye ointment. What is that for and is this something you are going to avoid or say yes too? My daughter was born abroad under emergency c-section so to this day I have no idea if this was given to her.

Any advise would be great.

@RG84 Getting so big here too. Feel about a month bigger than last time😬

With the eye ointment, are the birth plans definitely NHS based? I’ve never heard of it and given how many times I was asked if I wanted the Vit K injection (which I did) I feel it would have come up at some point? Could it be an American thing?

@RG84 I saw an American woman on TikTok saying her baby was given eye cream after delivery but I’ve never seen it given to any babies that I know of, would be interesting to find out about though!

Ah you could be right actually, it was just random templates I found but non was NHS ones so probably U.S templates.
I couldn't find an NHS one that focused on just c- sections.
Has anyone drafted theirs yet?

I'll ask at my next midwife appointment about it.

I have bloody gestational diabetes. The cut off was 7.8 and i’m 7.9 so only borderline.

I had my test this morning (disgusting) And had to go back this afternoon for a cervical length scan. My Consultant told me off the record, and said Diabetes team will be in touch next week.

This has been the pregnancy from hell 😂Bleeding for first 10 weeks, constant water infections, sciatica, issues with my cervix and now this!

Feeling bewildered and not sure how to control it. I guess i’ll learn more when I see the official team?

I found out I had gestational diabetes 2 weeks ago, was a bit more over than you at 8.3. Super scary and overwhelming at first, I cried a lot, but it's not actually been that bad once I've got my head round it. There was nothing either of us could do to prevent it as it's all to do with the placenta. At this stage you can probably get away with just minor changes, but it probably will get worse throughout pregnancy as your insulin resistance rises. weeks 32-36 are apparently the worst. You should get lots of guidance on how to control with diet from the hospital, mine did a seminar with a dietician. Need to limit sugar and carbs, but still need to eat the right amount of carbs for baby and basically you need to stick to a timetable of eating and portion control to spread carbs through the day. It's different guidance to type 2 diabetes as you don't need to cut out the fat/lose weight. Main thing that helps for me is ensuring you pair the carbs with lots of fat and protein, as that slows down the release and helps control the blood sugar. So I can have chorizo carbonara with wholemeal pasta for instance and my blood glucose won't spike, because it has lots of cheese and protein with it. Also there's some evidence that if you just eat a few mouthfuls of protein/fat/veg before the meal that really helps as it lines the stomach. For snacks I have nuts, cheese (including dairylea dunkers), sugar free jelly, yoghurts, and actually a couple of ice cream options that are high in protein such as mini milks or Oppo. A good website is gestational diabetes UK, that had lots of guidance and resources for me. Good luck!

@stardust25609 Thank you for replying, I’m sorry you’re dealing with it too but i’m glad i’m not alone!

I’ve had a little cry too. I am terrified baby will now go on to have diabetes? I obviously need to learn more.

I’ve been guilt ridden thinking i’ve caused it. I was on Prednisolone steroids for first 12 weeks in pregnancy and they piled the weight on me. It’s also an IVF pregnancy and i’ve had a real sweet tooth throughout. I didn’t realise placenta played a part.

You didn't cause this! It is almost completely down to the placenta and genetics. Basically our bodies need 2-3 times more insulin in pregnancy than normal, and your placenta is supposed to compensate for that, but ours aren't. They do say a BMI of above 30 is a risk factor (pre-pregnancy BMI though), but so many people have this and don't get gestational diabetes, and so many people that are slim, eat super healthily through pregnancy get it. My only risk factor was my mum had gestational diabetes with my brother, not even with me. I had low BMI pre-pregnancy, under 35 etc. Having a sweet tooth in pregnancy won't have affected it at all. The thresholds are also so much lower than for type 2 diabetes, because they want to be super cautious, so that number you tested at wouldn't get you diagnosed with diabetes outside pregnancy. As long as it's controlled now without loads of sugar spikes, either through diet or through insulin (that I have been told I am likely to need to go on because even eating the right diet my numbers are higher than they'd like - nurse reassured me not my fault) baby is not more likely to develop diabetes throughout their life, apart from the risk they'd have anyway through family genetics. They definitely won't be born with diabetes just because you have it in pregnancy. The big way it can affect baby is birth size, so you will be sent for extra growth scans, and they will closely monitor baby's blood sugar post-birth because it may be a bit high or low but this will correct quite quickly. The good news is GD goes away as soon as the placenta is out for the majority of people, as that's what causing it. Totally OK to be scared though, they will run you through some more scary consequences but these are super super unlikely. There's also a reddit group for gestational diabetes that I have found very helpful, quite US based but lots of people going through the same thing.

@stardust25609 Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Unfortunately my BMI was 32 at booking in (9 weeks pregnant) Having been 28 a few months prior. I’m blaming the IVF and Prednisolone!!

I’ve not put massive amount of weight on, in fact once I came off the Prednisolone at 12 weeks I definitely lost some.

In terms of baby’s size, can she be smaller because of this or bigger? I’ve got to start Clexane at 28 weeks pregnant. I didn’t meet the criteria but my Consultant still advised it because it’s an IVF pregnancy and she knew it would make me feel better. Wondering if that’s still ok because of the diabetes!

I mean the BMI is only a risk factor, and I don't think it's the main one to be honest otherwise everyone with a high BMI would get it and no one with a low BMI would get it. My BMI was 22 and my number was higher than yours at diagnosis. It's like blaming yourself if you're over 35 at the time of getting pregnant, that's also a risk factor. It's all the naughty placenta not doing its job.

In terms of size it can actually cause both I think, but mostly too big because too much sugar is in your bloodstream gets to baby and then makes them larger if you don't control it. Can make them smaller though if you restrict diet too much. There's actually some evidence that well controlled gestational diabetes babies are smaller than average.

@Alexis7890 @Undercoverunicorn so after stressing about the injections I had a call saying I won’t need it now. Something to do with my bmi. Glad I’m over Covid now.

For those that have been told they have gestational diabetes I’m in limbo too. Had a call saying I had it. Then I started home monitoring and the nurse thought it was odd that my reading in the morning was fine. Now need to do the glucose test again. It’s really made me think about my diet and cutting down on sugar.

@Smileyface32 good news re the injections and hope the retest for GD is OK too.