Feb 2024 thread 4

[Mummapenguin20]

Thought I’d start new one as old one was full and couldn’t see the next one x

Man I feel the odd one out, my plan is to go off at 33 weeks and that's with a singleton, whether that's with maternity leave and tack annual leave on at end or take 4 weeks annual leave and start maternity leave from 37 weeks. I have bad SPD and had it bad last time and then I went off at 36 weeks after taking a day of annual leave each from weeks 32-36 and it was a struggle. I'm part time now so not as intense but still heavy workload and just know I'll be mentally checked out by then, which won't work in my job!
This means I go off 5 days before Christmas which is pretty convenient for us but work are not particularly happy 😅 can love bomb my by then 3 year old and nest before the new arrival... and pray I don't go overdue! 🙈 Was 40+1 with my first so hoping for a bit earlier this time, especially with the SPD 🤞

I’m going off at 28 weeks, with been high risk and twins we have so many appointments etc that it just seems pointless me been at work. Im looking forward to been off and relaxing before babies come too!

I’ll be finishing work at around 33 weeks…. Not so much a chosen date but when we close our restaurant for a little 6 week winter break. We re-open on Valentines usually and baby is due on the 22nd! 🫣 I won’t be going back to work as such but OH will be! I’m really hoping baby comes early so that he’s around - it’s not gonna be easy for him to just leave the restaurant if I go into labour while he’s at work 🫣🫣 we need to make a plan! 🤣🤣

@Ihatewinding don’t feel odd one out. Do whatever is best for you! I did tell my manager I’d like to work until end of Jan but who knows what’ll happen or how I’ll feel before then! Only thing that is bugging me is that I’ve been asked quite a bit how long I’m going to take off.. and at this present time I just don’t know! Definitely the 9months, ideally 12 but will have to see how funds are I guess

@Ihatewinding snd @FTMCHD I’m finishing a little earlier as well, at 28 weeks. Being high risk and I’ve a 3 hr commute to work everyday so 15 hrs in the car Mon-Friday, it’s already starting to take its toll🙈

I went out for a walk today (just over an hr) and I’m very sore down below since, like a real pressure when I stand, it’s kind of freaking me out 🙁

Definitely call your out of hours Midwifry team if you’ve got any concern and rest up xx

Can I ask what people are doing about the covid jab? I’ve my flu jab booked next week and the doctors surgery casually said I will have the covid jab at the same time. I remember a discussion a few threads back where people weren’t getting the jab, can I ask reasons why? NHS guidance obviously says it’s fine, but I just feel nervous about it?! It seems like it’s on the rise again so DH thinks it’s a good idea. With my other three jabs (pre conceiving) I felt wiped out after getting Moderna so thinking like if I get it I’ll ask for a different jab. I’ve also never had covid, despite DH getting it twice and not really avoiding crowds, travel etc since restrictions eased.

I got the covid jab twice in my last pregnancy and my toddler is absolutely fine. Had also never actually caught it before and just thought I was lucky - then I got covid a month ago and was really, really sick with it and they had to monitor me and baby closely. Wished I’d got a booster early in pregnancy this time around. Lots of people don’t feel comfortable getting it, a friend of mine is pregnant and terrified of side effects. Go with your gut I say x

Thank you @User0224 this is helpful. And I hope you’re fully recovered now. My sister has just had covid for the first time was was very poorly, so think it is sensible to get it. Just wish there was more info/research into the longer term effects of jabs! X

@AmyA64 like @User0224 I had two Covid jabs in my pregnancy with my toddler and he is fine. I also had Covid a few months ago, so was thinking of not having the vaccine this time around, but after discussion with my partner I decided to. Partly because I'm worried how ill I might be in third trimester, partly because of possibility of placental deterioration, and partly because Covid will be rife still when this little one is born so I'm hoping it gives them some immunity.

Not an easy choice though, I weirdly still feel on the fence about it.

@DmcinT 3 hours in the car, you must be exhausted!

Out of interest if you start leave early like at 28 weeks etc, is that when your mat leave starts? Or do you take annual leave and unpaid up until you start mat leave?

@CharXo I would want to take the year as well, especially if end up using a good chunk before baby is even here, but want the time after as well. Hence I'm keen not to go over. My first mat leave was during COVID times so I want to do more groups and socialising this time around but everything is so expensive!

@DmcinT ouch that is an awful commute. Do you have the option to work from home? I wonder if I might need to do that from third trimester if struggling with pain, etc. It must be knackering as well even without being pregnant 😴 I hope the pressure eases up, I had a bad SPD flare up the other week and it spread up and felt just like labour pelvic pains. I laid down for a while and it did ease up but if it's ongoing and with you being high risk then I think probably a good idea to ring Triage?

I'm staggering my vaccines so have had flu jab done then got whooping cough coming up next week then will book COVID after that, as was thinking want some protection when closer to delivery and potentially in and out of Triage, etc. But do wonder if leaving too late with cases going up. I tend to get knocked out by vaccines so wanted to space them out. It's why I put off the flu jab last year due to toddler's poor sleep, and defo regretted that when did come down with flu, so prioritised it this year.

My husband has just had some kind of nasty viral illness with temps 38+ and covid negative. I'm fine so far so reckon he had flu and I hopefully managed to get protected just in time🤞

I generally work from home so I have been lucky in terms of it making pregnancy easier. I usually go into the office one day per week.

I am only getting a 2 week handover with the person covering me and will likely need to go in the office more for that (so right at the end!) and I'm really the only person who knows how to do my job.

Going to finish at 37 weeks.

I do want max time with the baby but I think my head will be mush!!!!

I've recently had the COVID jab at the same time as flu. I did feel more cautious about the COVID jab, but ultimately wanted to avoid getting COVID in the third trimester and also wanted baby to have some immunity when newborn. Also the times I have caught COVID it has caused problems with my period, not sure whether/how that could cause pregnancy issues for me.

I often feel mildly unwell for a day or so after these jabs, but this time it was fine. I was happy to have both jabs at the same time as per the guidance, but the down side to this was that it's not the most comfortable night of sleep given you're not supposed to sleep on your back in pregnancy! Still, there's a lot of COVID and other bugs going round at the moment and I come into contact with lots of people because of my job, so I don't think I'd have done any differently in retrospect.

Is anyone finding certain things really make baby move?
For me it's football, music & the cat 😄
The cat is obsessed with me and loves kneading my bump so the baby reacts. Probably thinking it's me prodding him 🤣

Baby definitely reacts to my cats @CheeseAndCrackersx - both of them love sitting with me at the moment and as soon as they start purring, baby starts kicking. Not sure if baby is saying "back off" or "hello"!

@CheeseAndCrackersx for me it's only really cold drinks. I had a lime & soda at the pub last night and felt some flurries. Unfortunately I have an anterior placenta so I'm not feeling at lot (at 24 weeks).
I'm not sure what to expect with the placenta placement - my last baby kicked a LOT and her kicks hurt! But I can't remember when that started....

I have my 20 week scan Wednesday (will be 21 weeks) nervous now I don’t know why baby is very clearly growing and goes wild in there at bed time x

That’s a wonderful sign, nothing to be nervous about. Hope all goes well

20 week scan today eeek!

ive got a little sugar loving raver!! 🤣🤣 goes mad at bedtime (especially if I lie on my left), wakes me up at 3am literally raving! 🤣🤣 and has a little dance every time I eat anything sugary.
tends to kick pretty hard if I (or medical team!) press my belly 🤣 think they’re telling me to bugger off! 🤣🤣❤️❤️

What 2nd trimester energy! 🥱😄

Haha @CheeseAndCrackersx I'm so glad it's not just me! Been on holiday with people who have new babies and had GREAT pregnancies- no nausea, no tiredness, etc! Felt lame sloping off to bed at 10pm some nights, and needing a break from my toddler in the daytimes. They seemed bemused

Omg 2nd trimester energy??!! What’s that???
I was hanging out for it but all I’ve benefitted from is (finally!!) getting a bit less sick 🙄
im obviously happy about that but I definitely don’t feel as great as I’ve been led to believe is the norm 🤣🤣
tired tired tired 😴

Before pregnancy I was doing a 5/6km walk and playing basketball every day but now the stairs up to our flat take me out and I'm constantly exhausted. I'm trying not to compare myself to others and reminding myself this is temporary. I'm not going to push myself too far when I'm growing a whole human even though sometimes I feel like I should. 😥