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!

@ceruleansky @Morningcoffeeaddict hope you can both get some physio help with your hips. I was seen at about 26 weeks I think and it's been amazing. My sacroiliac joint was getting stuck forward (which is apparently common in pregnancy) and I was struggling to do anything whereas now I'm back to going on decent length walks pain free! My referral stays open until 6 weeks post partum and it's been recommended that I go back to just check that nothing is out of place after birth.

I've also had Braxton Hicks and seem to only get one at a time. I didn't get them first time round but then it was COVID and I wasn't running around after a toddler so was able to rest so much more. They're really strange. They don't hurt but they're definitely uncomfortable like my tummy is being vacuum packed around baby 😂

I'm 31 weeks today. It feels like it's going so quickly!

@wannabe123 - that sounds great about the physio. I’m not sure whether the midwife actually put the referral through last week as we got distracted by my BP after that so I’ll remind her when I see her tomorrow.

If you’re only getting one at a time too then maybe it was Braxton Hicks I had the other day. Definitely felt like body saying “can you sit down now please” ha! 31 weeks is amazing - flying by - feels like only days ago we were all hitting the 12week scans!

@Morningcoffeeaddict
That's rough!! I really hope the physio helps you feel better..
I'm not sure either, I suppose it could be either the round ligament getting worse or a contraction.. I have heard that the experience feels like tightening of the stomach and I have felt it. But I'm sure mine aren't contractions. It just feels like the baby is pushing against one particular part for a looong time.

Also some time yesterday my stomach looked a bit pointed or cone-y and I'm positive I could see a circle the size of my fist. I showed my husband immediately and I said "it's the baby's skull". It was rounded. I have no idea if that's even possible??

@wannabe123
Thanks! Oh definitely get yourself checked out after birth as well..
I've heard after birth massages are really good too..
I know this pain is nothing and it's about to get a lot more uncomfortable but hey, what can you do..

Oh wait, the way you explained it was exactly how I felt. The vacuum thing in one spot. I also had just one, but I've had them a few times.

Also I had a check up today, baby is 2.2 lb and has a heart rate of 141. We haven't found out the gender yet but most people have guessed boy.

Hey all! Congratulations to the new arrivals - I hope they are all doing ok? ❤️

32 weeks on Thursday! Eek!! Been put on Metformin for my Gestational Diabetes. They are kind of helping. They make me puke more from acid reflux though, so thats fun - but only a few weeks left to go! 😄🙏
BP is ok so far....

I have been in physio for weeks and weeks but thankfully it has been a life saver with the hip!

@ceruleansky we haven't found it either but everyone (bar my mum is saying boy).

My mum said I need to get organised as have literally done nothing to get ready this time!

@ceruleansky - ah that’s exciting if you can tell what it is! Midwife and massage lady have both said they can feel baby’s bum when they’ve been prodding my tummy (and husband thought he could the other day) but his head is always down out the way. I’m useless and have no idea which bit is which just know I’m being prodded a lot from what feels like all over the place in there!

That is really interesting. I had no idea last time but my daughter was a folded breech so now have quite an interest in positioning of baby as to whether I end up with one that is head down this time!

@Sophie3003 - I’ve done basically nothing and hoping to move house in a couple of weeks so won’t do anything until we’ve moved. I’m sure it all works out.

@Morningcoffeeaddict we are sold but cannot find a house so goodness knows when we will get moved!

@Sophie3003 - oh what a pain. The market is a nightmare at the moment. We are sort of ready to go but there’s always fussing around with solicitors and chains that make things take longer!

@chilliflakesmum
Yikes metformin is rough. I was taking it thrice a day when I was ttc since it helps with insulin and I have PCOD.
I hope it treats you better..

@Sophie3003
I'm so excited for us to find out! Do you have a preferred sex?

@Morningcoffeeaddict
Omg 🤣 I wonder how they can tell it's the bum so early! If he's head down, do you feel the kicks at the top of your belly?
My baby is head down almost every time I have a scan.. I'm convinced they move to that position every time I lie facing the ceiling.

Also I felt reduced movements in between so I checked what I'm supposed to look out for and I was suggested to count 4 movements during the first hour after every meal.

@Morningcoffeeaddict we first put my house in the market in September and have just struggled to find something the whole time. Such a shortage of decent family houses coming on the market. Just so hoping we find something soon.

@ceruleansky is this your first baby? I didn't find out with my first and I had a girl (really wanted a boy 🤣- saw myself as the mum of boys 🤣), my husband would like a boy and I think it would be nice to have a boy but equally I love having a girl. Also we do plan to have more after this (all being well etc!). Do you have a preference?

@ceruleansky - no idea but they seemed very sure - there was a student midwife on one occasion being taught to check the position before looking for the heart beat so I heard them talking through what they were feeling. At the last scan he was head down but basically folded in half so his feet and hands were all round his face but sometimes I get the bum stuck out over the side of my hip (which hurts!) and kicks all over so think he’s still got quite a bit of room to move in there!

@Sophie3003 - ours went on a similar time but luckily we’re only moving within our village so we managed to hear about a suitable house before it was marketed. There’s not a lot out there though - my husband kept saying “oh I think we could maybe find something better” but we’ve been watching Rightmove the whole time and there’s nothing!

@ceruleansky @Morningcoffeeaddict my first was breech and by the end I definitely could feel where his head was. Apparently when they feel they find a round bit and if it's the head they can only feel something coming off one side.

@wannabe123 breeches sit so awkwardly don't they!? My daughter's head was stuck flat under my ribs on one side with her legs fully up and her feet dug into the side of her head, her bum was engaged! The weight at the top of my bump when I rolled over 😬!

@wannabe123 oh that’s interesting (and makes sense) - thank you! Hopefully this one sticks head down for you. DS apparently came out feet first but at 28weeks with a section I imagine they come out all sorts of ways round as they’ve still got all that space to wriggle in

@Morningcoffeeaddict I thought I felt the head by my ribs for a few weeks but he moved on about Friday and now can't feel any particular body part. Hoping he's getting comfy upside down 🤞

@wannabe123 are you aiming for a VBAC this time?

I need to start doing the positive birth company hypnobirthing course, not sure if anyone has any provide experiences of using this?

@Sophie3003 yeah I am 🤞 my c-section was really chilled and a nice experience last time but the recovery was long (not sore but just had to restrict myself for weeks) and I can't imagine not being able to pick up my 3 year old or do things with him for so long or explain why I can pick his little brother up and not him. I also (maybe weirdly to some) feel like I'll be missing out if I don't get chance to go through a vaginal birth.

@wannabe123 practically the same for me- daughter is 3 and a half but my recovery the pain and being so restricted as I couldn't even turn in bed was just terrible, plus staying in hospital the second night they were just awful to me.

Congratulations to everyone whose little ones have arrived 💕

Im 28 weeks now, got a growth scan tomorrow so excited to see baby again 😊

@Sophie3003 we’re doing the hypnobirthing course with them. Finding it good so far, there’s parts of it that aren’t for us but trying to take what we can from it and use it to keep me and DP calm!

@Hoping4amiracle congrats on your arrival! Keep us updated on your journey ❤️

@Sophie3003
Yes it's my first time! I resonate with the feelings you had, I also see myself as a boy mom. But I would love either. I mean girl baby clothes are so darn cute! 😅Especially since getting pregnant was difficult, I'm just grateful if I'm able to carry a baby to term!
Ooh, most people usually want one of each but yeah, who knows!!

@Morningcoffeeaddict
That's adorable.. I guess they do have room as of now! I agree, it hurts.. but it's also such a wonderful feeling.
Does your baby respond to taps from you or any specific type of food? Mine seems to have a sweet tooth like DH

@wannabe123
I don't understand what you meant by "coming off one side", sorry, could you elaborate? Also at how many weeks could you feel the head? It's interesting, I have never heard of this and I kinda freaked out seeing the head so clearly under my skin!

@ceruleansky so a bottom would have legs coming off one side and their back coming off the other whereas a head just has baby's neck coming off it if that makes sense. I definitely felt either a head or bum (pretty sure it was a head) last week at around 29-30 weeks but he's shifted and I can't feel anything specific anymore.