Due May 2024? Part 3

[Sa11yCinnamon]

Just kicking off a new thread, hoping no one else does it at the same time!

@Athena1984 hope all is ok, keep us posted xx

@nh93 Feeling you on the tired front & heaviness in pelvis! These babies must be doing lots of growing at the moment.

It might be totally normal but since Monday I've been having pretty sore pelvic pain in a new area; I've had some pain on and off for weeks but it tends to be more internal, almost in between my thighs at the bottom of my pelvis, and is triggered when I try and lift just one leg. Now, the pain is sort of localised around where your uterus normally is pre-pregnancy, really frontal and feels muscular. Where would you say you are feeling your pelvic pain those that are suffering?! I'm wondering if I've pulled a muscle or if this could be a sign of UTI etc. Baby is moving fine it just feels a a new/strange area to be having this pain. It has been making me wince turning over in bed the past couple of nights. 30+4

I’ve just found out I’m another one with iron deficiency. The call from the GP was actually out of the blue as I don’t even think about what they’re testing for when I get my bloods done. I’m really happy because I’m hoping this will reduce some of my symptoms - breathlessness (even at my desk), fatigue and possibly dizziness and slight fever too. For people already taking iron, how long did it take you to notice symptoms improving?

@junebuglb It might be your pubic symphysis (which counts as pelvic girdle pain)? I went to a women’s physio last week and she confirmed I have PGP. My pain moves around a bit and I think it depends on what I’ve been doing movement wise. For example, I got a bad case of cramp in my calf one night that caused me to walk lopsided for a couple of days and that triggered it badly on my right side on the front of my pelvis (as opposed to underneath where I’ve also felt pain on other occasions).

so i was confused if i had pelvic griddle pain but i'm not sure, my pain is mostly at the bottom of my uterus where the baby's head is on one side , i get the usual pregnancy aches and pains when walking or standing for too long but i can't seem to manage small walks without being in a lot of pain, i need to rest. My MW recommend paracetamol which i mean isn't that helpful.
I've been trying to do very basic pregnancy yoga stretches on my yoga ball which i'm not sure if it's been helping lol but i'm desperate

Speak to your Mw hopefully take is more seriously than mine did.

@PeppedUp I've been taking iron for 10 days and haven't noticed much difference yet, was hoping it would improve my energy levels!

@Sa11yCinnamon oh no! I did feel a bit worried when the GP said I had to wait four weeks to see if it’s working

Sorry to hear so many of us are suffering - but reassuring that I'm not the only one.

Warning - abit of a rant!

I'm hoping its just me but the last few days, I've had this feeling about impending labour / birth and afterwards that I'm not ready at all ... DH thinks its because we still have a few bits to buy (nothing major but things we think will make life easier) and that once we have those and the final pieces of furniture are delivered I will feel prepared and ready but I feel its more than that ... its keeping me awake at night and during the day Im finding its distracting me from doing things and i sit down and cry.

Last week we learnt that baby is on the larger side of "normal" and that the consultant we saw thinks we would be better off in hospital (labour ward) for delivery which shocked me because everyone else we have seen has always been very pro the midwife led unit so I dont know if my feelings stem from then as I dont know where is best for us anymore.

Its just the labour and delivery, Ive gone from feeling what will be will be, to there is no way I can physically or mentally do this and I break down and cry - (a) getting pregnant when we already had/have a (mostly) wonderful family unit and (b) this baby is so very loved by all of us all ready and they don't deserve the stress of my upsets and I feel guilty for getting upset

Aw @MrsB2005 I'm sorry you feel like that. My hormones are all over the place at the minute, I'm sure yours will be playing a major part here! I don't have any helpful advice but please come and vent here any time, we're all going through similar. I've not really been thinking about the birth because it's just too much to get my head round...

@Sa11yCinnamon Thanks Lovely!

Yes, your probably right about hormones too. Hopefully the next 8/9/10 weeks go by really quickly for us all, and that we will all soon be on here all hours of the day / night asking for "general" newborn advice.

@MrsB2005 so sorry to hear that you are struggling, sending a big hug your way. It is so, so understandable to be intimidated by the birth, no matter how positively we try to approach it. It really will be okay though. Those hormones that are making us want to cry with worry and crumple into ourselves at the moment will also carry us through the birth, whatever that ends up looking like!

Big babies run in our family and I'm expecting similar news at some point; it might help to know my midwife assured me that there are lots of benefits to birthing a bigger baby, including having gravity on their side! There is still plenty of time to decide what's right for you, and nobody can push you into a decision, especially without allowing you some time to think everything over. I'm not sure what your hospital set up is like, but if the birthing centre is attached, I'm almost certain you should be allowed to labour in the midwife led unit considering you could transfer very quickly if necessary

Hope this helps and doesn't add to your mental load, just wanted to offer some support and let you know you aren't alone!

@junebuglb Thank you so much for some wonderful information and reassurance. I haven't seen a midwife since the growth scan so am going to speak with her next week about things and hopefully she can give us her opinion etc.

We were originally planning for the Midwife led unit away from the main hospital and when I asked about that option in the main hospital, the student midwife said the hospital has a separate unit away from the main labour ward but this consultant didnt think they did (She had just returned from Mat Leave herself and didn't seem to know much about the hospital set up so not sure if she was new to the particular hospital as she also wasnt aware of whereabouts my current preference was or how they operated) so I dont know.

Despite all my moaning about feeling "blah" this pregnancy - I've decided I'm just going to remain pregnant forever 🙃

Hi @MrsB2005 - I think a lot of us are starting to feel the same way now we're getting so close. I have to have a c section for medical reasons and I'm having lots of intrusive thoughts about things that are making me quite anxious. It is a really nerve wracking time so if it helps at all, you're not alone! We also have lots still to do in the flat and items to get, and it's concerning me that we seem to have gone from "there's loads of time" to, "eek, better actually get on with it!".

@newbie12345678 apologies if you're already aware, I've seen a few people recommend an instagram account called 'csectionuk' - they run online courses and share lots of resources and information, might be worth checking out?

@Sa11yCinnamon I actually stumbled across this last night for the first time, good to know lots of people use it - thank you so much!

I'm feeling very overwhelmed with things at the moment & my hormones are playing havoc too. Feel like I could just sit & cry today.

I still need to pack my hospital bag, however I don't have the things to put in the hospital bag yet, so that could be tricky lol

I'm feeling overwhelmed with the nursery. I'd got things planned out in my head, but once we'd started putting stuff in there it won't fit & now I'm stuck on what to put where & how an earth everything will fit in there.

The rest of the house looks like a bomb has hit it, although Husband is doing more than his share & isn't well this week.

Everything just seems ALOT.

I'm burying my head in the sand about birth. Baby is measuring 33+4 when we went on Wednesday at which point I was 31+5.

Not sure there was any point to this post, other than to share how I'm feeling.

@Clarkey34 You are most definitely not alone!

I haven't even thought about my hospital bag yet and most definitely dont have all the stuff I need.

Please share away, its sometimes nice to know others are feeling similar.

I've also given absolutely no thought to my hospital bag, other than buying enough newborn vests and sleepsuits from Vinted.

Saw an advert for disposable pants earlier and that sent me into a small panic about the state I'll be in post-birth, so I'll try to block it out for another few days then panic again 😂

Had my 32 week growth scan today and baby was generally showing 33+3 days. Current weight is around 4lb9oz and if she stays on this path then will be around 8lb 9oz which is larger than I hoped but obviously great that she is healthy and getting all the nourishment she needs!

Got an antenatal health visitor coming to my house on Tuesday if any of you have had this or have this scheduled?

I’m going away for a few days when I’ll be about 35 weeks so I’m planning to get a little suitcase together to take with me. Need to start gathering bits and pieces for it, have got really important things like nipple cream but no sleepsuits for the baby 🤣

I have days where I get myself in a state about everything and other days where I’m more what will be will be. I remember with my first though just having days of worrying about the labour etc but although no one can prepare you for it, you just do it because you have to! So try not to stress about it for the those first timers. I would also say not to have any great expectations of what you would like labour to be like as the likelihood is baby will have other plans. Won’t be long and we will all be discussing how little sleep we are getting from our little sleep thieves x

Since my little stay in hospital this week I’ve had a raft of appointments come in for check ups which is good.

I’m to go in to cardiology on the 25th to check my heart again and see what’s happening with this ectopic beat. I’ve then got an obstetrics appointment on 3rd April too, unsure exactly what that’s for as the letter doesn’t say. I’m assuming it related to going to hospital and not just a regular appointment as I’ll be just over 33 weeks so seems random for a routine thing. Could also be something to do with baby being on 10th percentile but I’ll be seeing my midwife on the 28th for another appointment with another growth scan on 9th April so wouldn’t have thought I’d have something growth related in between?

I think baby’s moved in to a different position. My lower back has been quite uncomfortable for a few days now but thankfully I feel like I’ve got more space up top 😂 also cannot stop going to the toilet so I am on high alert for a bloody show but it’s still way too early hopefully!

@SarahB88 I was just about to write a post to you to see how you were.

Not sure what the appointment would be for but I guess it could be anything - It must be reassuring to know they are looking after you and hopefully alls well and its just to check up on both of you.

Hope you manage a relaxing weekend x

Aw thanks so much @MrsB2005 ☺️

Baby’s been kicking away as normal so I’m assuming everything is fine in there and she’s not planning an early exit any time soon! The appointments are reassuring though so hopefully everything goes ok.

The rugby is on so we’ll be watching that all day on Saturday. My partner will just be off night shift too so even more of an excuse for us just to cuddle up together.

Another one here whose baby has moved! Previous scans were showing her being in breech poster but now in a head down position which is great news!

@SarahB88 how are you feeling tiredness - wise?
My bloods came back also with low ferritin at 19, even though I had been taking iron 320mg every other day since ~week 16.
I was told to increase that to daily (this last week since the results came back) but I'm not physically feeling much of an improvement, I'm still exhausted most of the time... I probably have a morning a week where I'm feeling good, and as soon as I get tired it takes days to feel good again.

Also it doesn't help that I've got a huge belly because of excess amniotic fluid, they first picked it up at 27 weeks being marginally polyhydraminos and rescanned on Thursday (30 weeks) and the fluid has increased so I'm now referred to the fetal medicine unit.
It's stills on the mild side, so I'm hoping it's nothing bad oor the baby, it's just worrying that the fluid keeps increasing...
I might try to find some posts here related to polyhydraminos in the hope of many good stories...

It also makes everything so uncomfortable, breathless, difficulty in every kind of movement. I would loooove to finish work earlier but my maternity replacement is starting now and I need to hand over...

I'm so tired I've also stopped all kinds of preparations I was doing for labour and early breastfeeding (which was mostly reading stuff and watching videos), but I'm only 30 weeks so I'll give myself a bit of time.

The good thing is that we decided not to have a nursery yet, just a bedside crib for the first six months and then we'll see how things go. We're planning on moving away for a year for my husband's job anyway when the baby will be 7 months, so it's a bit pointless to plan a nursery already. It makes me feel so relaxed not having to think about it.

@Nina7 truthfully I don’t feel any better with the increased iron. The doctor did say that my body might not absorb it. Anything over 200mg a day is basically just hope you get a bit more in, there’s no guarantee. I think your ferratin needs to be sub 11 to qualify for the iron transfusion if I remember correctly from general anaemia. The doctor was thinking my tiredness is more linked to my heart not doing its job fully with this ectopic beat rather than the iron levels. Basically when the hearts not working optimally you’re not getting as much oxygen in as you should be so that makes you tired, paired with my asthma I’m basically screwed on that which is why they’re considering blood thinners to see if that helps things work a bit better and reduce my exhaustion. I wonder with your excess fluid pushing everything up so high could you be getting a similar oxygen effect?

I feel a bit better for not working this week but have to say the effect is so minimal that I think I’ll manage my final 6 weeks without having to finish early. Unless baby makes an early appearance which I’m getting a bit more convinced of. It’ll be interesting to see where she’s positioned at my midwife appointment on the 28th.

Can’t believe I’m 31 weeks tomorrow! This last part is going so quickly. We had the realisation yesterday that we only have 1 blanket for this baby so better get some more before she arrives. She’s only got 5 pairs of socks 🙈

Another one with low iron, ferretin at 9.8 but haemoglobin was still ok. Taking the iron supplements which cause all sorts of intestinal discomfort. Also been taking spatone everyday.