Due July 2024 - part 3

[Oatmilktea]

I noticed the other thread was full and have started a new one.

Lovely to hear of everyone’s 20 week scans. Thanks to those of you who gave me a list of baby essentials, very helpful!

Hope you’re all doing well!

Hi all. Joining in as I am due on 21 July 🩷 (but likely to be sooner via elective section due to age and low lying placenta). Some really interesting info on this thread so thanks all. It's also been reassuring to hear about the anxieties that some of you have experienced as I'm driving myself nuts about every little thing!
I see you are currently discussing weight gain, I was a little tubby last week and then suddenly this week I can't fit into my jeans and look properly pregnant although i suspect that is also due to trapped wind! I have had constant discomfort (my muscles all over my stomach and abdominal region which I am attributing to this massive growth spurt) and occasional pain which seers through the area (probably ligaments...). I wondered if you have experienced this as this is my first pregnancy and I have no gauge of what to expect. I considered calling midwives but I can still feel baby kicking and no bleeding etc so all seems well, it's just so disconcerting.

@MyNameIsBatty I can't exactly answer why, but I've been having some real aches in my lower abdomen/pelvic pressure, back pain, and shooting pain since Tuesday. I was worried because I had been feeling fine until then, so I contacted my midwife and she didn't seem concerned.

She said sometimes "around this time during pregnancy the baby and the uterus start to take up more space. This can cause kind of an achy pressure/stretching feeling lower in your abdomen". Then she only asked about vaginal bleeding and UTI symptoms, which were negative for me, besides a pulling sensation when I pee (waiting for an answer on that one).

Hopefully it just our babies growing (I know they are supposed to have a growth spur right around now)!

@Samszie - thanks for sharing what your midwife said! I’ve been really uncomfortable in the lower abdomen this week too (22weeks) and was hoping it was just stretching pains so this is reassuring to hear!

@MyNameIsBatty I've been having some side pains. I had a cyst removed when I had a C-section last time and it feels like the scar tissue there. I've also noticed a tender spot on my stomach which I don't know if it's just where my placenta is 🤷🏼‍♀️ there's so many unknowns in pregnancy! I am seeing the midwife tomorrow for my 24 week check up so I'll let you know what she says.
I've also got my GTT tomorrow 😫 I'm already feeling hungry but managed to get into my own head about not eating anything too bad or sugary incase it affects my blood sugars tomorrow. My rational brain is telling me it will all be fine but there's still a part of me panicking!

@Morningcoffeeaddict yeah, absolutely. I'm heading to a check up on Monday, mostly to make sure I don't have an UTI. She reiterated that unless there's bleeding (or other fluid), fever, or the pain gets much worse, it's probably just the baby/uterus growing. She advised stretching, a warm bath, or even Tylenol (besides resting).

Ah thanks @Samszie that's really reassuring to hear! It didn't feel like anything too sinister but it's making me feel bloody miserable and one of those things that you ruminate on and stress about!
Good luck for tomorrow @wannabe123

Thanks @Samszie - it usually does calm down if I sit down but there’s not much time for that with a 3 year old around! I will try for resting and maybe demand some alone time for a nice bath.

feel like the worst mother with pregnancy hormones making me extra grumpy but I’ve heard “mummmmmyyyyy” so many times since 4am this morning I’m ready to scream today!

Ha! I feel your pain @Morningcoffeeaddict. With DD2.5 I’m like ‘I know I’m your favourite person in the world and your favourite thing to do is to climb on me, but please could I just drink this coffee in peace?’ 😂

… inside my head obviously, she is only 2 after all ☺️

@Amberellaella - right with you. I’ve managed to convince him that daddy is for climbing on and not me at least but he doesn’t stop talking from the second he wakes up (which is cute but not when you just want 5mins of quiet).

😂

Hope everyone is doing well!

We had a lovely relaxing holiday in Tenerife which we didn’t think we’d get to go on as I was diagnosed with a low lying placenta. Having read a few horror stories I asked my consultant and she said I was fit to fly.

Unfortunately when I got home I was so unwell, vomiting non-stop for 18 hours! I got admitted for an anti sickness injection and fluids. I’m just so glad it didn’t happen on holiday.

Luckily baby boy is doing absolutely fine 🩵

20% off at Sainsbury’s for anyone wanting to stock up on baby bits! I’ve got a big load arriving soon. The multipacks of baby grows etc work out as good value 😊

Thanks @MrsHousePlant I'm going to have a look now!

@Oatmilktea so glad you had a great time on holiday, sorry it didn't end so well, hope you're feeling better soon!

@Oatmilktea glad you got to go on your holiday but you poor thing being so unwell when you got back! Hope you’re not feeling too bad now and glad baby boy is doing well!

@Oatmilktea glad you managed to get away. Shame about feeling ill when you got back.

My GTT and midwife appointments went well today. I mentioned feeling random aches and the midwife said it's probably muscles stretching and ligament pain which sounds about right. Having to sit still for the 2 hour GTT wait seems to have not been good for me though as my hip is in agony. Moving around really hurts like it is seizing up but I'm worried just sitting down is not going to do it good either!

@Oatmilktea :( so sorry to hear, hope you are feeling much better!! ❤️ hope you can take the memories away from your holiday without the illness.
@MrsHousePlant thank you! i am going to look now :)

I had 25 week midwife appointment yesterday and as usual, in my stone age district (even though close to a huge well known city!) they missed out urine check, no measurements and no information, still, I am grateful for the appointment and baby girls heartbeat is lovely and she said my belly placement is ok - I was concerned bout tiny bump!
She also said they never check babys blood group (due to me being rhesus neg) which is strange as some ladies have been checked on here but there you go 😅

anyone else super underwhelmed by the health check appointments?
I keep leaving feeling super sad/tearful, really dread these appointments. It's more about how they've made me feel rather than anything else.
Probs being silly and pregnant and of course they are super amazing at their profession, but helps to have you lovely ladies experience to ☺️

They check baby's blood group only in certain areas. Also they don't do bump measurements until 28 weeks, mums who are not having their first baby don't get a 25 week check, I am but my midwife says I can have the first time appointments and also because I am having the anti-d. I find my midwife really good but then I had an extra check the other day and I found that midwife quite unapproachable and that I couldn't chat to her.

@Sophie3003 I found the same too with midwives. I had a different midwife to normal yesterday and found I couldn't chat to her as much as my normal one and the appointment felt more transactional. In my area they also give all mums all the appointments which I like.

@Jess725 it's strange that they didn't do a urine sample - I've always found midwives desperate for a sample haha

Since sitting still for 2 hours during the wait in my GTT my hip has been agony and I'm really struggling to walk 😫 I'm holding out hope that my pregnancy yoga class tomorrow will work it's magic and help me stretch it out.

@wannabe123 I highly recommend private physio whilst pregnant. My back was so bad at one point and turns out it was my ligaments pulling away from my spine, now having regular physio and no trouble (I also have existing issues with hyper mobility etc). Also had regular physio to keep well during my first pregnancy. They were surprised I kept well the first time and off crutches and hoping to be well this time.

@Sophie3003 I think I'll definitely look into it. I'm glad you've found one so helpful

@wannabe123 I agree about the physio, I’ve been getting monthly appointments throughout pregnancy and it’s made such a difference!

@Jess725 thats really odd they didn’t do urine, as above they’re usually obsessed with it - I gave two samples in a week once which felt like overkill but they should be checking

@Jess725 I’ve had a different midwife for every appointment so far so completely get how you feel. Don’t feel like there has been any continuity and each time I’ll be asked if it’s my first etc. I know the appointments are to check on everything but I’m finding it hard to see the point in them!

@MrsHousePlant can you not book in with the same one each time? When I book my appointments we check it is my midwife's day/appointment so I can see her. I did ask at my first about seeing the same one.

@Sophie3003 Unfortunately not, in my area they say it’s down to staff shortages. I get booked in for the next one at the end of each appointment and you just see whoever is there on the day. I don’t even have a named midwife on my notes!

I've convinced my toddler that only daddy does nappies 😎😎😎